LIMA Chief Thumps Ruler's Decision

Perak is experiencing more pangs in the lead-up to the birth of its new government, a multiracial government that ignores the old wisdom of Malay for Malay, Chinese for Chinese and Indian for Indian.

And the state’s newly appointed Mentri Besar appears to be a rather feisty fellow with a fairly egalitarian outlook despite his PAS affiliation and meek demeanour.

Today, after a meeting with some village chiefs, Mohamed Nizar Jamuluddin tackled head-on the mischievous attempts of some chauvinistic NGOs to subvert the authority of Sultan Azlan.

You’re playing with fire, is basically the message Nizar wants to send out to these NGOs, understood to be about 20 of them, who are making noise over the race of the assemblymen chosen to serve in new state executive council.

Nizar is PAS state secretary.

Perak’s proposed state executive council is to comprise six DAP assemblyman, three Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblyman and one PAS assemblyman.

The NGOs, led by one Nonee Ashirin Mohamed Radzi of a club that calls itself Prowaris, is protesting the line-up on the basis that it does not reflect the state’s racial makeup. Perak, they insist, is largely comprised of Malays and as such the state exco should have more Malays.

The NGOs, representing several trade associations and guilds, are also questioning the Sultan’s decision to appoint two Deputy Mentri Besar to assist Nizar. It is unclear whether these NGOs are part of Prowaris but their spokesman Nonee, a law graduate, is understood to be ‘director of defence’ for Prowaris and CEO of World Aerospace, the company which organized Lima ’07.

Prowaris stands for Pertubuhan Profesional Melayu Dan Pewaris Bangsa. Roughly translated, the name reads ‘Society for Malay Professionals and Heirs of the Race.’

Yesterday Nonee derided the ruler’s decision to have two Deputy MBs as a tool ‘to serve the DAP’s political interests.’ She insists Perak’s constitution has no provision for the post of two Deputy MBs.

Nizar, as newly appointed MB, appears to be taking a hard line against the bigotry and chauvinism of these NGOs.

He says the palace has already accepted the coalition’s proposed line-up and given its consent. A challenge to the line-up at this stage, reasons Nizar, is a challenge to the authority and will of Sultan Azlan.

Nizar says these NGOs are ‘inviting trouble from the palace’ if they keep insisting more Malays be put into the exco.

According to the media, Sultan Azlan is away in London and will be returning home soon to swear in the Deputy MBs and new state exco. DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham has been named the Deputy MB I. The Deputy MB II position is to be given to an assemblyman representing the Indian community and has yet to be named.