King can appoint new PM during emergency, says lawyer

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong can install a new prime minister in the midst of an emergency if the candidate commands the confidence of the majority of MPs, a lawyer said.

Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin said this was possible even though Parliament was not in session.

He said the Perak case in 2009 demonstrated that the head of government could be replaced based on statutory declarations and properly established extrinsic evidence presented to the King.

Firoz Hussein was referring to the Federal Court ruling in 2010 where the Sultan of Perak sacked Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as menteri besar and appointed Zambry Abdul Kadir without having to take a floor vote in the legislative assembly.

Apart from SDs, the sultan interviewed all 59 assemblymen to conclude that Nizar no longer enjoyed the support of the majority to remain as head of government.

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