KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders today welcomed the Federal Court's decision to retain Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as Perak Menteri Besar and hoped that all parties would accept the verdict and allow him to concentrate on further developing the silver state.

They said it was important for everyone to allow the current BN administration under Dr Zambry to carry out all planned programmes to steer progress in the state.

MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said all the parties concerned must respect the verdict of the Federal Court.

"The sanctity of the law must be upheld. In the past one year, we have seen how things had been played to the galery. When the decisions are in their favour, they won't utter a word, but when things are not in their favour, they try to create havoc," he told Bernama.

Ong, who is still on medical leave following his heel operation last week, said he hoped that with today's decision, the current state government could continue carrying out its hard work to serve the people in the silver state.

MIC president and former works minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said that he was happy with the decision as it would mean continued progress for Perak.

Samy Vellu, the former member of parliament for Sungai Siput in Perak, said Dr Zambry had displayed strong leadership qualities within a year of becoming the menteri besar.

"I'm confident that he will ensure the BN's victory in the next election. He has been fair to all races and has brought development," he said.

Perak MCA chairman Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said the state MCA hoped everyone would accept the decision and not try to create disharmony in the state.

"I would like to request everyone to respect the decision of the court and remain calm. It is time for Perakians to move forward," he said.

A five-man bench of the Federal Court today ruled as constitutional the appointment of Zambry to the post by Sultan Azlan Shah to succeed Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of Pakatan Rakyat after he was satisfied that the latter had lost the majority vote of the state legislative assembly.

Meanwhile, Perak MIC chairman Datuk S. Veerasingam said the fundamentals of democracy where the majority vote, and not the minority, should rule a state must be preserved and this the Federal Court had done.

Veerasingam, who is also special advisor to the Perak menteri besar, urged the opposition parties in Perak to cooperate with the Barisan Nasional state government in the interest of the people, who wanted development and peace, and to wait for the next general election to try to win back the state.

Perak BN Government Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Nadzri Ismail said the court's unanimous decision showed that the BN takeover of the state government was done through the proper channels.

Gerakan deputy president and Perak chairman Datuk Chang Ko Youn said that all along, the BN was quietly confident that it would win the case as it knew Sultan Azlan Shah and the coalition had acted according to the Perak and Federal constitutions.

"Today's decision affirmed the normal Commonwealth practice in appointing the government. So now I hope the PR can respect and accept the decision of the Federal Court which is the final court," he said.

The former Perak state executive councillor, who is currently one of Zambry's advisors, said that all the political parties must not politicise the appointment of the menteri besar anymore and should instead work together for the benefit of the people.

"Let us fight it over in the next general election to seek the people's mandate. For now, everybody should work together to restore the stability and prosperity in the state," he said.

In KUCHING, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan expressed confidence that Dr Zambry would continue to bring stability and prosperity to Perak under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.

All parties should respect the Federal Court's decision in declaring Dr Zambry as the rightful menteri besar, Dr Chan, who is also the United People's Party (SUPP) president, he told Bernama.