KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court's pronouncement of Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as the legitimate menteri besar of Perak may have brought some semblance of certainty to the state, said political analysts polled by The Edge Financial Daily, while Pakatan Rakyat (PR), on its part, has its work cut out for it to win the state in the next general election.

"What PR can do is to play opposition, and catch Zambry's government out whenever there is cause to do so," said Dr Ooi Kee Beng of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

"PR can continue nationally to highlight the manner of its loss of Perak, but the effect of this will diminish as time goes by," he said.

On what Zambry should do, especially to woo the Chinese voters who have yet to show signs that they have swung their support towards BN, Ooi said: "Zambry will not be prioritising the Chinese vote. A lot of effort will be needed, and for small gains on that front. What he will do is to secure the Malay and the Indian vote."

Ooi said although ousted menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had challenged Zambry to call for fresh state polls, it would be more strategic for Nizar to direct his troops to dig in and plan for the long term.

Political analyst Wong Chin Huat said there was a need to reflect on a democratisation roadmap that reviews federal-state, executive-legislative relations as well as the proper role of the palace in politics.

"At the political level, Nizar and PR must position themselves as a shadow government," he said. "It must be able to offer a good alternative to Zambry and company. Nizar must be able to show leadership without power — he must lead in policy direction, forcing Zambry to follow."

"Perak voters must be able to see the monetary differential in their well being of having a Zambry against a Nizar government," said Wong.

While PR could continue to criticise the court's decision as harming the constitutional monarchy, he said, it must also show voters that it would accept reality and do its best as the opposition.

On the perception that Setiawan assemblyman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming hold sway over Nizar, Wong said that with a functioning shadow cabinet, Nizar would be able to play a key role in policy direction. This would help to dispel such a perception, he said.

Another analyst, Khoo Kay Peng, said of the Federal Court decision: "There is a need to relook at the parliamentary democracy process."

"The election of the leader of the House can only be decided in the House. It is weird to be decided by the constitutional monarch," he said, adding that there was a need for checks and balances.

He said PR had much work carved out for the coalition. "There is too much infighting. What they do is not enough. They have to prove themselves. They have to position themselves as a viable alternative."