THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
1977 Kelantan Emergency
The 1977 Kelantan Emergency took place in the state of Kelantan in Malaysia. The state of emergency was declared by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on November 8, 1977 upon the request of the federal government following a political impasse and street violence in Kelantan.
This was the fifth and last declaration of emergency in Malaya and Malaysia after the 1948-1960 Malayan Emergency, 1962 Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis and the 1969 May 13 Incident.
Events leading up to the declaration of emergency
The Mentri Besar of Kelantan in 1977 was Mohamad Nasir of Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS). At that time and since 1972, PAS was part of the Alliance Party and subsequently Barisan Nasional (BN, after 1974), which is the federal government-ruling coalition party.
In 1977, Mohamad Nasir was experiencing dissatisfaction within PAS and was accused of defying party instructions. A no-confidence motion was tabled in the state assembly wherein 20 PAS assemblymen supported the motion while 13 UMNO and 1 MCA assemblymen walked out in protest.
Mohamad Nasir refused to resign. He then requested the Regent of Kelantan (as head of state) to dissolve the state assembly to make way for an election but it was refused. Supporters of Mohamad Nasir then demonstrated in the streets resulting in violence and looting.
Declaration of emergency and aftermath
On November 8, 1977 the Yang di-Pertuan Agong declared a state of emergency in the state of Kelantan. The Emergency Powers (Kelantan) Act 1977 was passed by Parliament the next day giving the federal government implied power to govern the state. Although being part of Barisan Nasional coalition, 12 out of 14 of PAS members of Parliament had opposed the passing of the Act. Consequently PAS was expelled from the BN coalition.
During the emergency, Mohamad Nasir retained the post of Mentri Besar but with limited powers as the ultimate executive power was vested in the Director of Government which was appointed by the Prime Minister under the Emergency Powers (Kelantan) Act 1977.
In March 1978, an election was held in Kelantan. The election was contested by PAS, UMNO and BERJASA, a new party formed by Mohamad Nasir. UMNO won the election winning 23 seats, while BERJASA won 11 and PAS with 2 seats paving way for UMNO to form government in Kelantan for the first time.
After the election, BERJASA joined Barisan Nasional and Mohamad Nasir became a Senator and a minister in the federal government while Mohammad Yaacob of UMNO became the new Menteri Besar of Kelantan. Mohammad Yaacob retained the post until 1990 after PAS regained control of Kelantan.
References
Cheah, Boon Kheng (2002-09-30). Malaysia: The Making of a Nation. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. pp. 179–. ISBN 978-981-230-175-8. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
Crouch, Harold A. (1996). Government and Society in Malaysia. Cornell University Press. pp. 106–. ISBN 978-0-8014-3218-7. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
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That is a pretty accurate account of what happened in Kelantan in 1977 so I did not see any need to rewrite anything. What I do want to discuss, though, is why did Rafizi Ramli equate what happened in Kelantan in 1977 to what is currently happening in Selangor?
In Kelantan in 1977, it was an internal party matter involving the ruling party of the state, PAS. Selangor is not being ruled by PKR but is being ruled by Pakatan Rakyat and PKR holds only 14 of the 56 state seats (now 13 since Kajang is already vacant).
Even if 13 of the PKR State Assemblypersons pass a vote of no confidence against Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim in the Selangor State Assembly (like what happened in Kelantan in 1977), PAS and DAP still control 30 of the 56 seats or 31 if Khalid were to be included.
Hence, how can the state fall unless Barisan Nasional adds its 12 votes to that and DAP joins them with another 15? Then they would get 13 (PKR), 15 (DAP), and 12 (BN) to total 40 out of 56.
Okay, the declaration of the emergency in Kelantan in 1977 was not because of the vote of no confidence against the MB in the Kelantan State Assembly. It was the result of rioting on the streets and the burning of the cars, shops and houses. The Chinese and Indians were not involved. They stayed indoors and locked their doors and windows. It was Malay versus Malay, or PAS Malays versus PAS Malays to be more accurate.
Is Rafizi saying that the PKR Malays are going to take to the streets to riot against fellow PKR Malays, the pro-Khalid faction versus the pro-Azmin faction, like what happened in Kelantan, in the event that a vote of no confidence is passed against MB Khalid? More importantly, I think, is this question: are they planning a vote of no confidence against MB Khalid?
Maybe Rafizi should explain what he meant when he said that Selangor might turn out like Kelantan if Anwar does not take over as Menteri Besar. This is very worrying because in Kelantan it was a purely Malay affair but if they are planning to do the same in Selangor as what happened in Kelantan it would not be confined to just Malays versus Malays or PKR Malays versus PKR Malays since PKR is not a Malay party.
Oh, and one more thing, this kind of talk (Anwar assured of Chinese votes) does not help either. Is Pakatan Rakyat trying to suggest that Anwar’s future is in the hands of the Chinese or that the Kajang by-election is going to be a contest between the Chinese and the non-Chinese?
And you get angry when Umno attacks the Chinese. But you yourself are suggesting that the Chinese are the ones propping Anwar up. Isn’t this silly?
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