28 Mei 2009

PENGHAKIMAN MAHKAMAH RAYUAN-PANDANGAN PAKAR PERUNDANGAN PERLEMBAGAAN

Blog DS. Nizar : http://kamparinn.blogspot.com

Asalamualaikum semua,

Saya salinkan disini untuk tatapan (maaf hanya bahasa Inggeris), pandangan dan pendirian bekas hakim mahkamah rayuan NH Chan mengenai penghakiman hakim-hakim mahkamah rayuan (lima minit berlisan) pada 22 mei 2009 jam 3.45 petang.

Saya telah cadangkan beberap peguam untuk mengalihbahasakan kedalam BM supaya ramai lagi bolih mendapat munafaat dari pendirian tersebut. Salam maju jaya.


Do take the trouble to understand before you find fault with the judges of the Court of Appeal — NH Chan
(Sila fahami sungguh-sungguh situasi sebenar sebelum mencari kesilapan hakim-hakim Mahkamah Rayuan)

MAY 26 — Before you go about judging the judges of the Court of Appeal on their five minute oral decision, which they handed down on Friday, May 22, 2009, please bear in mind the wise words of the most liberal of American judges, judge Learned Hand who once wrote — The Spirit of Liberty, p 110:

… while it is proper that the people should find fault when the judges fail, it is only reasonable that they should recognise the difficulties … Let them be severely brought to book, when they go wrong, but by those who will take the trouble to understand.

I shall now try to help you take the trouble to understand the oral findings of the Court of Appeal. First of all we will look at what the New Straits Times, Saturday, May 23, 2009 has to say:

PUTRAJAYA. … In allowing the appeal by Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir that he was constitutionally appointed as Mentri besar by the sultan on Feb 6, Court of Appeal judge Datuk Md Raus Sharif said there was no clear provision in the state Constitution that a vote of no confidence against Nizar must be taken in the assembly.

Raus, who sat with Datuk Zainun Ali and Datuk Ahmad Maarop to hear submissions on Thursday, said Nizar had on February 4 made a request to the sultan to dissolve the assembly under Article 16 (6) because he no longer enjoyed the support of the majority assemblymen.

He said Nizar had no choice but to resign once the ruler declined to dissolve the assembly.

“There is no mandatory or express requirement in the Perak Constitution for a vote of no confidence to be taken in the legislative assembly,” Raus said in a five-minute oral ruling before a packed court room.

That was all. That is the gravamen of the five minute decision. What the Court of Appeal has said above as reported in the New Straits Times had also been said by Mr Justice Abdul Aziz in the High Court in his well considered judgment - 78 pages on A4 paper. This is what the High Court judge said, at p 30:

It is not in dispute that His Royal Highness had exercised the royal prerogative in this case pursuant to Article XVI (2) (a) and (6) of the Perak State Constitution. However the applicant [Nizar] is not asking the Court to review His Royal Highness' prerogative to appoint the respondent [Zambry] as MB Perak or His Royal Highness’ prerogative to withhold consent to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly. The applicant concedes that the two royal prerogatives are not subject to review and non justiciable. That is the reason, the applicant [Nizar] said, His Royal Highness was not made a party to the present disputes.

And at pp 36, 37 Abdul Aziz J also said:

Under Article XVI(2) of the Perak’s State Constitution His Royal Highness shall appoint as Mentri Besar a member of the State Legislative Assembly who in His Royal Highness’ judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the State Legislative Assembly. …

I never had any doubt that the exercise of the royal prerogative to appoint a Mentri Besar pursuant to Article XVI(2) Perak’s State Constitution is solely based on personal judgment of His Royal Highness and that His Royal Highness may resort to any means in order to satisfy himself and accordingly to form his judgment as to whom who is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the State Legislative Assembly that he can be appointed as the Mentri Besar to lead the Executive Council.

I also have no doubt that His Royal Highness has absolute discretion with regard to the appointment of a Mentri Besar and the withholding of consent to a request for the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly. This is plain and obvious from the reading of Article XVIII (1) and (2) (a) and (b) of Perak’s State Constitution. The High Court judge even agreed, at p 37:

… that if the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the State Legislative Assembly, he shall tender the resignation of the Executive Council,…

So then, how could the Court of Appeal overrule the judgment of the High Court when the higher court substantially agrees with the judgment of the High Court? The newspaper report is not very clear on this point as we are still unaware of the reason for overruling the judgment of the High Court judge.

However, according to the report in the New Straits times, Raus JCA did say, “There is no mandatory or express requirement in the Perak Constitution for a vote of no confidence to be taken in the legislative assembly.”

So what if there is no provision for a vote of no confidence in the Legislative Assembly? The High Court had found that Nizar is still the Mentri Besar. To overrule the decision of the High Court, the Court of Appeal must explain why the judge of the High Court was wrong in finding that Nizar is the Mentri Besar.

The newspaper had even suggested that it could be implied in the ruling of the Court of Appeal that the Ruler had sacked the incumbent Mentri Besar Nizar:

The unanimous Court of Appeal ruling yesterday seems to suggest that a head of state can sack the incumbent head of government once it was determined that the politician ceased to command the confidence of a majority of the elected representatives.

The newspaper is wrong. That was not the finding of the Court of Appeal. In any case the monarch has no power to dismiss a Mentri Besar — there is no provision for it in the Perak Constitution. The trial judge Abdul Aziz J in his judgment has explained why he found that Nizar is still the Mentri Besar. This is how he puts it — see p 54 of his judgment:

It is true the request may be made only under two provisions of Perak’s State Constitution i.e. Article XVI(6) and Article XXXVI (1) and (2). But the circumstances under which the request can be made are unlimited. The request under Article XVI(6) is specific to a situation where the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority in the State Legislative Assembly; whereas under Article XXXVI (1) and (2), [the] situation is unlimited. It is up to the Mentri Besar to choose his time to make the request. However once a request is made under whichever of the two provisions, it is entirely up to His Royal Highness’ discretion whether to grant or [not to grant] the consent to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly.

Then at pp 56-58 the High Court judge comes to this conclusion:
In my view it is alright if His Highness takes upon himself to determine who commands the confidence of the majority in the State Legislative Assembly that he can appoint as the Mentri Besar. Such determination however is only good for the purpose of appointing a Mentri Besar pursuant to Article XVI(2)(a) Perak State Constitution. This is so because that provision speaks of ‘who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority’. The language used therein requires the exercise of a personal judgment on His Royal Highness.

But the same thing cannot be said with regard to Article XVI(6) in deciding whether the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly. In this case His Royal Highness, through his enquiries has judged that the respondent [Zambry] has the support of the majority. But that finding does not necessarily mean His Royal Highness can form an opinion that the applicant [Nizar] ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the legislative assembly.

One reason for this is that the expression ‘in his judgment’ is not used in Article XVI(6). I am of the view that just because His Royal Highness had formed a judgment that the respondent [Zambry] is likely to command the confidence of the majority for the purpose of Article XVI(2)(a) to appoint the respondent [Zambry] as Mentri Besar it does not mean that His Royal Highness’ opinion or judgment is applicable in deciding that the applicant [Nizar] ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly.

In another word, one cannot say that because His Royal Highness has judged that the respondent [Zambry] is likely to command the confidence of the majority in the Legislative Assembly therefore the applicant [Nizar] ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly. I would say that the personal opinion or judgment of His Royal Highness is irrelevant to the construction of Article XVI(6).

The [other] reason is that Article XVI(5) Perak State Constitution states that the Executive Council shall be collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly. Under Article XVI(2)(a) the Mentri Besar is appointed to preside over the Executive Council. Article XVI(6) speaks of “If the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the legislative Assembly …”. Reading these three provisions in Article XVI Perak State Constitution it is logical and in fact Article XVI(6) requires it to be so, that it is the Legislative Assembly that determines whether it has confidence in the Mentri Besar as the Head of the Executive Council. The Legislative Assembly may make the determination through a vote of no confidence against the Mentri Besar. (The emphasis is mine)
It seems to us ordinary folk that the Court of Appeal has missed the point. They decided that Zambry was properly appointed Mentri Besar under Article XVI(6). That is not correct — he could only be appointed under Article XVI(2)(a). Since there cannot be two Mentri Besar and Nizar the incumbent Mentri Besar has not resigned and, further, since the legislative assembly did not decide if he has ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the assembly, Nizar, unquestionably, is still the Mentri Besar of Perak.

Nizar’s case was that Article XVI(6) speaks of “If the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly”. The poser is who is to decide “If the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly” under Article XVI(6)? Certainly not the Ruler because the phrase “in his judgment” — which is used in Article XVI(2)(a) — is not used in Article XVI(6). If it is not to be the Ruler then who is to decide “If the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly”?

The answer is in Article XVI(6) itself — only the Legislative Assembly itself could decide if the Mentri Besar ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Assembly. Article XVI(6) clearly states that the Mentri Besar who no longer commands the confidence of the majority of the Legislative Assembly “shall tender the resignation of the Executive Council”. This has to be done “unless at his [the Mentri Besar's] request His Royal Highness dissolves the Legislative Assembly”. But Mentri Besar Nizar could not admit that he ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly because he would not know until a vote has been taken at the Assembly to determine so. Only the Assembly itself would know if a vote is taken to determine whether the Mentri Besar has lost the confidence of the majority of the members of the Assembly.

Now that you have understood the five-minute decision of the Court of Appeal as well as the well considered judgment of the trial judge, you should be able to severely bring to book the judges of this Court of Appeal since you are now aware if they have done wrong.

Before I sign off, I wish to say a few nice words to the High Court judge. Mr Justice Abul Aziz Abdul Rahim is a fantastic judge. The judgment, especially the piece on the interpretation of Article XVI(6), is so good that it has persuaded me to change my mind on my view of Article XVI(6). If you remember my first article, I have expressed an opinion on Article XVI(6). Now I know I was wrong — and I have to thank Abdul Aziz J for showing me the way. —
loyarburok.com

Bekas hakim ini (NHChan) pernah berceramah di PJ Civic Hall pd 13 Mei 2009 mengenai kemelut politik dan krisis perlembagaan di Perak yg di hadiri tak kurang dari 10,000 orang.

Sehingga sekarang peguam2 saya masih menunggu ulasan penghakiman dari hakim2 mahkamah rayuan. Masih belum dikeluarkan berbezz dgn hakim YA abdul Azizi, hakim mahkamah tinggi KL, yang membacakan ulasan pengakiman selama 1jam 27 minit untuk memutuskan keabsahan kedudukan MB Perak mengikut Perlembagaan Perak.

* Justice NH Chan is a retired judge of the Courts of Appeal.

Posted by Dato' Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin

6 ulasan:

lawyerlenggong berkata...

SALAM PERJUANGAN..
sebagai seorg yg sdg menuntut ilmu n bakal meyertai bidang guaman,insyaallah, di masa akn dtg, dgn rendah hati ingin menegaskan bhw pandangan seorg bekas hakim mahkamah rayuan Justice NH Chan n pakar2 undang2 yg len adalah berdasarkan merit n tidak memihak @ berat sebelah dlm keputusan mahkamah rayuan dlm isu perlembagaan yg menjd krisis yg berpjgn di bumi Darul Ridzuan sehingga kini..kpd DYMM TUANKU, patik sbg hambarakyat negeri PERAK, merayu n memohon, apalah sudi kiranya TUANKU berkenan agar DUN PERAK dibubarkan..sesungguhnya, patik yakin & percaya TUANKU berhasrat agar kemelut politik yg berlaku sehingga kini di PERAK dpt diselesaikan secara berhemah agar di kemudian hari patik mampu menceritakan peranan mulia TUANKU dlm krisis perlembagaan di PERAK ini dgn bangga kpd bakal waris patik..insyaallah..DAULAT TUANKU..SEMOGA ALLAH SENTIASA MEMBERI RAHMAT DAN DARJAT KEMULIAAN KERABAT TUANKU SENTIASA TERPELIHARA..AMIN YA RABBAL A'LAMIN..

lawyerlenggong berkata...

SALAM PERJUANGAN..
sebagai seorg yg sdg menuntut ilmu n bakal meyertai bidang guaman,insyaallah, di masa akn dtg, dgn rendah hati ingin menegaskan bhw pandangan seorg bekas hakim mahkamah rayuan Justice NH Chan n pakar2 undang2 yg len adalah berdasarkan merit n tidak memihak @ berat sebelah dlm keputusan mahkamah rayuan dlm isu perlembagaan yg menjd krisis yg berpjgn di bumi Darul Ridzuan sehingga kini..kpd DYMM TUANKU, patik sbg hambarakyat negeri PERAK, merayu n memohon, apalah sudi kiranya TUANKU berkenan agar DUN PERAK dibubarkan..sesungguhnya, patik yakin & percaya TUANKU berhasrat agar kemelut politik yg berlaku sehingga kini di PERAK dpt diselesaikan secara berhemah agar di kemudian hari patik mampu menceritakan peranan mulia TUANKU dlm krisis perlembagaan di PERAK ini dgn bangga kpd bakal waris patik..insyaallah..DAULAT TUANKU..SEMOGA ALLAH SENTIASA MEMBERI RAHMAT DAN DARJAT KEMULIAAN KERABAT TUANKU SENTIASA TERPELIHARA..AMIN YA RABBAL A'LAMIN..

Tanpa Nama berkata...

Kan clear tuh. YB Nizar masih MB. YB Zamri camna pulak? Dia tu bolehlah dipanggil sebagai MB, kerana dia telah dilantik oleh Sultan untuk menjadi MB Baru.

Esok, kalau Sultan nak lantik MB baru lagi, pun buleh. MB Baru tu pun MB jugak. Yang keempat dan kelima pun boleh. Maka jadilah Perak dipenuhi oleh MB-MB.

Canggih gitu. Tak boleh ke kita pakai 1 MB je? Kalau tak suka MB yang pertama, tunggulah pilihanraya berikutnya. BN sepatutnya bersabar.

Kenapalah BN ini suka buat onar di negeri Perak? Saya cadang BN bertaubat je lah. Hamba cadangkan juga kepada DYMM Sultan Perak agar tuanku arahkan MB selepas Nizar untuk letak jawatan. Jadi reset semua ini balik kepada zero.

Atau kalau nak lebih adil dan tidak memalukan mana-mana pihak, bubar je DUN, biar rakyat yang pilih. Alah, adab pertandingan mesti ada kalah menang. Yang menang tu jalan kan kerja, yang kalah pun jalankan kerja, semuanya samada PR atau BN berkhidmatlah kepada rakyat. Jika sedemikian, yang paling beruntung ialah Sultan, kerana baginda akan dilihat sebagai Sultan yang adil dan saksama.

Kalau risau sangat Cina akan membolot kuasa di Perak, kenapa tak halau je cina tu dari negeri Perak? Hah, tahu pun tak buleh...cina tu pun rakyat perak. Kita melayu memang kena hidup dengan cina. Tak boleh ke terima hakikat ini?

Kita selalu dicanangkan persoalan-persoalan seperti: "kalau cina itu dan kalau cina ini...habislah kita orang melayu." Sila bangun dari tidur le. Cina memang dah menguasai pun, tak nampak lagi ke?

Itu bukan salah cina. Mereka bekerja dan berusaha, Allah bagi lah. Allah is fair. Persoalan sebenarnya ialah: dibawah leadership UMNO, bagaimana boleh berlaku tahap pendidikan, ekonomi dan sosial yang berbeza antara kedua bangsa itu?

Kenapa UMNO gagal menguruskan Melayu?
Kenapa UMNO gagal menguruskan Melayu?
Kenapa UMNO gagal menguruskan Melayu?

Tanpa Nama berkata...

salam YB,

jika keadaan terlampau sukar, dicadangkang agar pihak YB membuat bacaan yasin 44 kali utk memohon kepada Allah s.w.t menghukum terus para hakim yang zalim dalam membuat keputusan. adakan di semua masjid dan surau di seluruh perak. Andainya bacaan yassin pun dihalang oleh pihak polis, maka Allah jua akan melaknat mereka.

Tanpa Nama berkata...

Berbicara fasal bangsa, saya pun bangsa Melayu, anak jati Negeri Perak. Dilahirkan di Kg. Sayong Lembah,berhampiran dengan Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar. UMNO konon nya memperjuangkan hak Melayu, melayu siapa? Melayu mana? hanyalah kroni yang berada disekeliling dengan pimpinan mereka sahaja. Melayu lain apa yang dapat? hanyalah sekelumit diagehkan kepada rakyat jelata. Apa dah jadi DEB? biasiswa pelajaran untuk bumiputera? tanah rezab Melayu? dan lain-lain lagi. Tak usah lah bicarakan soal ekonomi, soal bahasa pun tak boleh diharap umno untuk memeliharakan nya, demikian jua soal tulisan jawi yang nyata hak bangsa melayu, apa dah jadi?
Lihatlah! betapa megahnya tulisan cina, india, siam, burma, jepun , korea dan lain-lain lagi.
maseh kekal dan dipelihara oleh bangsanya. Sebenarnya UMNO lah yang mengkhianat bangsa, bahasa, ekonomi dan segala hak-hak orang Melayu. Sebelum bangsa melayu lebih teruk lagi, kuburkanlah UMNO wahai saudara sebangsaku.

ubatkuat berkata...

salam buat muslimin dan muslimat
perkenalan yg lebih utuh terbina disini,,saya pun mengalirnya darah bangsa melayu ugama islam di KAMPUNG PASIR BATANG KULIM KOTA LAMA KANAN KUALA KANGSAR PERAK,CUCU ARWAH KULOP ABDUL RAOFF DAN ARWAH TEH BTE HITAM MD ALI,,ape yg saya nak perkatakan di sini adalah dari zaman tertegaknya UMNO DI KUALA KANGSAR DAN DITERUSKAN OLEH OPAH FIDAH AZIZ,, BERAPE KERAT AJE MELAYU ATAS NAMA MELAYU BERKEMBANG DIDAERAH INI ITUPUN ATAS DASAR KRONI DAN JUAK2 DIA AJE,,ITU BARU BICARA MELAYU BERJAYA ATAS TIKET KRONI JE DAN BELUM LAGI DARI HAL EKONOMI DAN SOSIO BUDAYA KAT SINI,,MALU SAYA DENGAN APE YG DAH BERLAKU DI PERAK SEMATA MATA GULINGKAN NIZAR ATAS TUDUHAN TUNGGANGAN DAP,,APE YG KORANG DAH BUAT KAT MELAYU NI,, UMNO??BANGGA APE NYA KALAU KUASA DIPALIT DENGAN UNSUR RASUAH , SALAH GUNA KUASA, PENINDASAN PADA ORANG YG TAK SEALIRAN DAN BERSIFAT PERKAUMAN SERTA DENGKI SESAMA MELAYU/ISLAM