Constitutional expert: Sultan can't sack Nizar - Malaysiakini

Feb 7, 09 4:03pm

Constitutional expert professor Aziz A Bari today said that the Sultan of Perak had no powers under the state constitution to "hire or fire" a menteri besar.

He said that while that was the position before independence, the post-Merdeka constitution made it very clear that the menteri besar does not hold office at the sultan's pleasure.

"The state constitution, along with the federal constitution, states that the menteri besar holds the office at the sultan's pleasure subject to the provision of the menteri besar holding the confidence in the state assembly," he told Malaysiakini.

"The important factor to consider here is the Article 16(6) of the Perak constitution which states that the menteri besar shall only step down if he ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the legislative assembly.

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