THE PERAK STATE GOVERNMENT SHOWDOWN

Ipoh, Perak. Thurday, 7^th May 2009

In reverse order, latest events first.

Events Proceeding the Sitting of the Perak State Assembly.

The action has now moved inside the state assembly.

The Speaker V Sivakumar, immediately, after taking his seat, asked the seven suspended BN state reps including BN appointed MB Zambry to leave the hall.

He says he won’t begin the assembly sitting until they are all out of the hall. According to Sivakumar, he has the power to do so. Pakatan state reps thump their table in support.

The speaker said the suspension of Zambry and his six exco members was made by him in his capacity as the chairperson of the privileges and the special rights committee and not as the speaker.

He said the Federal Court decision was based on his standing as a speaker and as such the matter was inapplicable.

He also asked the three BN-friendly independents to leave the assembly as his legal suit against the three was still pending in court.

His order for the ten to leave the State Assembly Hall was greeted by cheers and table-clapping by the Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) representatives.

They shouted ‘keluar' (out) repeatedly.

However the ten representatives still remain in the hall. A shouting match between the two sides is currently under way.

Entry to the Perak State Assembly Hall.

All Perak State Assemblymen, special guests with invitations and accredited media were allowed into the Dewan.

Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) reps sat on the right side of the Speaker (the so called “government side”).

The police conducted strict checks of all ID passes. Everyone was scanned by means of metal detectors.

Men without songkok (Malay headgear) and a female reporter in traditional Punjabi outfit were denied entry.

One can but wonder what this sartorial matter has this got to do with the police?

Shouting was heard from within the State Assembly Hall.

Scores of people have already been arrested in Ipoh.

Shortly after that yet more arrests outside the state secretariat, this time it was the turn of Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa of PAS and Malaysiakini columnist and activist Helen Ang.

10:00

PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub was detained for 'illegal assembly' about 20 metres from the tree dubbed the “Democracy Tree” where the historic “under the tree” State Assembly was held on 3^rd March 2009.

Shortly after Salahuddin was detained, yet another arrest, this time of Sungai Siput MP Jeyakumar, who was detained about 10 metres away from the same tree.

Up to about 09:45, according to Lim Kit Siang, those arrested so far include:-

1. Lau Bak Kee, DAP veteran chairman,

2. former rep R.K. Muthu,

3. blogger Zorro (Bernard Khoo),

4. Lee Kong Hing, previous Negeri Sembilan state organising secretary,

5. Sg Pinang rep Koid Teng Guan,

6. Bahau rep Tey Kok Seong,

7. Temiang rep Ng Chin Tsai,

8. Teratai rep Jenice Lee,

9. Melaka rep Khoo Poay Tiong,

10. Taiping DAP Youth chief Tey Kok Lim.

An Anti-Black T-shirt Day in Ipoh.

Police reportedly confiscated two boxes (about 200 units) of black coloured "One Black Malaysia" printed t-shirt from the Pakatan Rakyat supporters stall next to the Kampung Manjoi Baru surau, earlier in the morning. Are these t-shirts unlawful, are they prohibited items, are they banned??

Police also earlier arrested three men wearing black t-shirts with the slogan “Kembalikan hak rakyat” (Give the people back their rights) after a scuffle outside the state secretariat building.

To get updated on the situation as it evolves

Click

HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE

To read REUTERS news report click HERE

Ut sementem feceris, ita metes

As you sow, so shall you reap