The Malaysian Insider

VIENNA, Feb 9 — Malaysia has fired its ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog for voting against a resolution rebuking Iran and he will be replaced as rotating head of the agency’s governing body later this week, officials said.

The rare removal of a senior serving diplomat on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors underlined the volatile politics and high stakes in policymaking involving Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.

Mohd Arshad Manzoor Hussain, a 35-year diplomatic veteran, told Reuters he had been sacked by his government after being recalled to Kuala Lumpur following the Nov 27 vote and several weeks of consultations.

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — The Barisan Nasional has won the legal battle to keep Perak but the political battle for the hearts and minds of the people has just started — and it remains an uphill battle for BN.

“The vast majority of the people reject this court appointed Mentri Besar,” said Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, echoing the feelings of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters across the country.

He told The Malaysian Insider that PR members are shocked and disappointed with the outcome.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to accept today’s Federal Court ruling that upheld his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition as the legitimate Perak government.

Najib (picture) said the verdict which found in favour of Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir was decided by the country’s top court and that its decision is legally supreme.

“Though those [who] lost may have a differing view of the judgment, we have to accept the decision of the country’s highest court,” he told a press conference here.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb 9 — The trial of Datuk Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohd Zubir, who is charged with sending death threats to three Terengganu Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen, got underway in the Sessions Court here today.

The trial was supposed to have started on Jan 17 but was postponed to today after the accused had been unwell and hospitalised at the Kuala Terengganu Hospital.

Ahmad Ramzi, who had been the political secretary of former Terengganu mentri besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to him before Judge M. Bakri Abd Majid.

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Debra Chong

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 — Toppled Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin said today’s Federal Court ruling that upheld Barisan Nasional (BN) as the rightful state government will lead to an “absolute monarchy.”

“If this decision goes on and becomes the law of the day, it will lead to an absolute monarchy,” Nizar said after the apex court declared Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir the rightful mentri besar.

“That means the Ruler can now dismiss the prime minister or the mentri besar at any time,” said the grim-faced PAS leader.

While Nizar accepted the court decision, he claimed the ruling had “neglected constitutional precedents” and ignored the wishes of the voters.