Zambry seeks court order to lift suspensions

IPOH, March 2 -- Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six state executive councillors (excos) on Monday applied to the High Court here to get a declaration that the decision of Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar to suspend them from attending its sittings is null and void.

In the originating summons filed this afternoon, Zambry and the excos claimed that the 18 and 12 months suspensions imposed on him and the excos respectively by Sivakumar contravened the state constitution.

Speaking at a press conference at his office here, Zambry said he understood the High Court would hear the application at 9am tomorrow.

The plaintiffs also want the court to declare that they have the right to attend and take part in all proceedings of the state assembly and carry out the duties entrusted to them.

Sivakumar has called for an emergency sitting of the assembly tomorrow and sent notices to the effect except to Zambry, the six excos and three Independent assemblymen.

The summons was filed by lawyers Hafarizam Harun, Badrul Hisham Abdul Wahab and Ong Teng Boon at the High Court at 3.55pm with some 50 Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters turning up to show support.

Zambry said they also wanted the court to declare that the assembly was not subject to orders, directives or guidance from Sivakumar.

"I wish to state that whatever the issue, whether the suspension of me and the other six plaintiffs, the right to attend assembly sittings and any other matters are now before the court. As such, any action by Sivakumar can be deemed sub-judice and in contempt of the court," he said.

He urged Sivakumar to act rationally according to the law and uphold the state constitution and his oath of loyalty to the Sultan of Perak.

The emergency meeting planned for tomorrow, he said, cannot be held because it is illegal as it did not get the consent of the Sultan.

The press conference was attended by all the BN assemblymen as well as two of the independents, Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Jailu and Behrang Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.

The BN came into power in Perak early last month after the ruling opposition coalition lost its majority in the assembly.

The BN government now has 28 seats in the assembly, the same as the previous ruling coalition of PAS, DAP and PKR but the three independents, who left the opposition ruling coalition to become independent assemblymen, have thrown their support behind the BN.

Yesterday, Sivakumar had stressed that he would go ahead with the emergency sitting as planned despite the assembly's secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri issuing a statement that it was illegal because it did not get the consent of Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak.

Police have begun to mount roadblocks in front of the State Secretariat Building which houses the State Assembly and mobilised the Federal Reserve Unit to maintain peace.

Perak police chief Datuk Zulkefli Abdullah has issued a warning to the public not to gather in the area tomorrow while the state secretariat has also issued a notice that the building would be closed tomorrow.Bernama

TWM: Now we are watching the game to be played by Zambry. If Sivakumar tried to use the Standing Orders and his powers as Speaker to the limit now we are going to watch Zambry using the powers and authorities that he as the legally appointed MB of the Sultan of Perak. May the truth prevails and the sancity of the State Constitution and powers of the Sultan also prevails.