Nizar vs Zambry - the outcome today

The Kuala Lumpur High Court will decide today who is the legitimate Perak menteri besar.

The court is expected to make a decision based on an application by ousted Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (left pic on the right) at 2.30pm today.

The decision by justice Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim can either bring an end to the ongoing political turmoil in Perak or start a fresh round of battle for power between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan.

The state has been in a political impasse since February after Sultan Azlan Shah urged Datuk Seri Nizar to step down and appointed Datuk seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (picture above, on the left)as the menteri besar.

The sultan's decision was based on the defection of three Pakatan elected representatives to become BN-friendly independents.

Datuk Seri Nizar has, however, questioned the legitimacy of Dr Zambry's appointment and is pushing for the state assembly to be dissolved so that fresh elections could be held.

Last Thursday, BN gained an upper hand in the state assembly by removing the Pakatan appointed speaker V Sivakumar and replaced him with Datuk R Ganesan from MIC.

Datuk Seri Nizar's case was filed on Feb 13, in which he sought a declaration that he is the rightful menteri besar and to prevent dr Zambry from discharging his duty.

Datuk Seri Nizar's lawyers previously argued in the court that if he got the declaration, he would seek a fresh mandate to resolve the political deadlock.

Meanwhile, security is tight at the Jalan Duta court complex with extra police personnel placed in the court complex.

By 1.20pm, the police have started vetting those wanting to enter the courtroom.

Three Federal Reserve Unit trucks were also on standby, ostensibly to control the crowd if things get out of hand following the decision. - Malaysiakini