PUTRAJAYA – Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the Federal Court's decision on Tuesday made him feel humbled to perform his duties to the best of his ability for the people of Perak.

He hopes the episode would end with the people in Perak reunited, regardless of their political ideology.

"I thank the people in Perak and elsewhere in the country who have prayed for justice and prosperity in Perak.

 "This is the time for us to be united and to work hard. This is my hope and prayer," he told reporters after attending a meeting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and all mentris besar and chief ministers at the PM's office here.

Zambry was not at the Federal Court when it ruled that he is the rightful Perak MB

Asked about the prime minister's advice for him, Zambry said in a Bernama report that Najib hoped the agenda for the people would be well executed.

Cut the politicking

On the possibility of the Opposition continuing to impede him, he said it was time to work and not to carry on politicking.

On a statement by toppled MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that the court's decision was expected and planned, Zambry said it was inconsistent with Nizar's earlier statement.

Let him say what he likes. Actually, the people know better.

"The people can judge his statements throughout the process before the court's decision. For me, what is more important is for all quarters including Nizar to work for the well-being of the state," he said.

'Decision will lead to absolute monarchy'

Meanwhile, Nizar Jamaluddin said it was the 'blackest day' for the people of Perak, adding that the Federal Court had neglected constitutional precedents that could led to 'absolute monarchy.'

"This is the blackest day for the people of Perak and peace-loving Malaysians. The verdict has set aside all constitutional precedents. Democracy has been torn into pieces.

"If this decision goes on and becomes the law of the day, it will lead to an absolute monarchy,” he told reporters after the Federal Court declared  Zambry the rightful MB.

"This means the ruler can now dismiss the prime minister or the mentri besar at any time,” added Nizar, who was MB for only a short stint after the tripartite Pakatan Rakyat took the Perak state assembly after the March 2008 general elections.

The MB crisis started last February after three state assemblymen left the Pakatan Rakyat alliance and declared themselves as 'independents who support the Barisan.'

This led to a series of court proceedings that evetually saw Nizar and his executive councillors replaced by Zambry and his men.

Nizar, however, is not expected to apply for a review of Tuesday's decision, although he did not refrain himself from calling the ruling government an 'illegitimate' one.

"Although we (Pakatan Rakyat) are seemingly under siege, Umno has no courage.

"(There is) a facade of a very strong Barisan Nasional but in reality they do not have the courage to face the people. We will focus on winning Perak back in the next general elections," said Nizar.

AG: Clear judgement with sound reasonings

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is on trial for sodomy, said he was not surprised by the court's decision.

“I have said that, without doubt, I did not expect a different decision, knowing the limitations of the system,” he told reporters at the Jalan Duta courts in Kuala Lumpur.

“I am not surprised by the decision of the Federal Court.

"But the fundamental issue here that it is consistent with our position, both in Perak and at the national level, to demand for an immediate election in Perak.

“When the state was forcibly taken, under the instruction of Najib (Abdul Razak), even at that stage we had called for free elections to determine the leadership of Perak,” said Anwar.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail told reporters that it was a 'very clear judgement with very, very sound reasonings.'

"There's no doubt about it. What the judges said is that anyone who has the majority can
be appointed Mentri Besar but must prove it," said Gani. - Malaysian Mirror