1977 Kelantan Emergency
Encyclopedia
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
(King of Malaysia) 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
.
(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.
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.
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
in Malaysia. The state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
was declared by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
(King of Malaysia) 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
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
, 1962 Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation during 1962–1966 was Indonesia’s political and armed opposition to the creation of Malaysia. It is also known by its Indonesian/Malay name Konfrontasi...
, 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis
1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis
The 1966 Sarawak constitutional crisis took place in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. The crisis broke out after 21 out of 42 members of the state legislature declared that they did not have confidence in Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the then chief minister of Sarawak. The 21 assemblymen wrote to the...
and the 1969 May 13 Incident
May 13 Incident
The 13 May Incident is a term for the Sino-Malay sectarian violences in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, which began on 13 May 1969...
.
Events leading up to the declaration of emergency
The Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) 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 NasionalBarisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
(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
Malaysian Chinese Association
Malaysian Chinese Association is a uni-racial political party in Malaysia that represents the Malaysian Chinese ethnicity; it is one of the three major component parties of the ruling coalition in Malaysia called the Barisan Nasional in Malay, or National Front in English.Along with the largest...
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 emergencyState of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
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.