Najib might not replace Badawi; Pigeons Celebrate

I just read a very interesting piece on The Nut Graph. I won't pirate it here, but visit the site to read about Najib's Premiership Not Guaranteed. Jacqueline Ann Surin and N Shashi Kala interview constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas (which just rolls off your tongue, doesn't it? Say 4 times fast, Tommythomas, tommythomas...) and he argues that when Prime Minister Badawi resigns, constitutionally, the decision on who to choose as the next Prime Minister lies with the Agong.

3 of the last 4 Prime Ministers resigned and 1 died in office (so Malaysians haven't really directed elected their Prime Minister, ever before) and the Agong chose the person who commanded the most leadership in the House of Representatives. That was an easier decision when BN held a 2/3rd majority, more contentious now.

He also argues that the choice should be the Agongs, how there is precedence for this in Commonwealth law and in the UK, and how the people will accept it because we respect the Agong and want an end to the political crisis.

I'm enjoying the "political crisis" (I prefer revolution personally), because I'm tired of an ideology of stability, but also because it shakes up power structures. But I'm more against giving power to the Agong.