Azlan Shah of Perak - 2009 Perak Constitutional Crisis

2009 Perak Constitutional Crisis

In early 2009, he attracted heavy criticism for his involvement in the toppling of the Pakatan Rakyat state government, which led to the Perak Constitutional Crisis. His decision was subsequently reversed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court, which ruled that the Sultan was not constitutionally permitted to dismiss the Menteri Besar. However, upon appeal by Dato' Dr.Zambry bin Abd Kadir, Court of Appeal has reversed the decision made by the High Court on ground of the learned judge had wrongly interpreted relevant articles in Perak State Constitution which gives absolute discretionary power for the Sultan to withholding consent dissolution of State Legislative Assembly. It is also in view of the Court of Appeal, that the Sultan was correct to refuse dissolution of the assembly and directed Nizar to resign as he had lost the majority of confidence in assembly. The decision by Court of Appeal subsequently upheld unanimously by the five-man Bench of Federal Court on 10 February 2010 which declared Dato' Seri Dr Zambry as the rightful Perak Menteri Besar.