Thesun 2009-02-20 Page01 Speaker Disrespectful

Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)

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No. 4701 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Friday February 20, 2009

The invincible pg20-21 man by Tim Leonard [email protected]

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday described Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar’s decision to suspend newly-appointed Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and six executive council members as “ridiculous” and “disrespectful” of the sultan and the state constitution. He urged Zambry to lodge a police report on the matter and to seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak to inform him of the situation. He said the move was the latest ploy by Pakatan Rakyat to overthrow the Barisan Nasional state government, which was appointed legally by the sultan, adding that by suspending the seven, PR will have the majority in the state assembly. Zambry was sworn in as MB on Feb 6 and the exco on Feb 10, after three PR assemblymen quit their parties to be “BN-friendly independents” while another who had defected from Umno for Parti Keadilan Rakyat rejoined the party. However, the PR government has insisted it is still the rightful administration and has taken the matter to court. On Wednesday, Perak state assembly’s committee of rights and privileges chaired by Sivakumar handed down the suspensions, throwing the state deeper into a constitutional and political crisis. Speaking after handing over contributions to Unicef for the people of Gaza at his official residence, Abdullah said Sivakumar had no right to suspend Zambry for 18 months and the executive councillors for 12 months. “This clearly shows the speaker’s action is wrong and disrespectful of the sultan and the Perak constitution. It is a ploy with no good intentions at all. They

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Wong departs to find peace of mind

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just want to topple the BN government ... they can’t accept defeat. The Perak government (BN) should make a police report as they have the right as assemblymen to be in the Dewan.” When asked if the new political twist could be resolved by going for fresh elections as recommended by PR, Abdullah said: “There is no need for elections. BN should continue ruling Perak to ensure stability.” He said when PR won in the general election, BN gave way to PR to form the state government but now the situation had changed and BN was deemed as the legitimate state government, so it should function as “demanded by the people”. He reminded politicians to work on solving economic problems rather than continue playing political games.

Assembly must endorse decision Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar “The speaker should act neutral and not partisan. If he wants to form a new committee, he must first talk to the MB. Furthermore, the case (lawsuit filed by PR against BN for taking over the state government) is in the court. He (Sivakumar) cannot make his own decision anymore because Zambry is the de facto leader of the government. “Sivakumar made a decision through an old committee, which does not follow the state’s Standing Order as there was

only representatives from the PR in the committee.” The speaker should not make a public announcement before the decision is endorsed by the House.

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DAP chairman, lawyer Karpal Singh: The assembly speaker has the right to convene a rights and privileges committee hearing on a complaint when the assembly is not in session. However, the committee’s decision to bar Zambry and his executive councillors from the assembly has to be endorsed by the state assembly.

Flying tiger ... These teenagers enjoy a front-row view of giant kites flown at the International Kites Festival in Pasir Gudang, Johor, yesterday. The festival ends on Sunday.

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PETALING JAYA: Saying that this is her darkest hour, and that she never felt so alone and humiliated, Elizabeth Wong is determined to resign as Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman and Selangor executive council member. She said despite tendering her resignation from all posts, the media and websites had continued to intrude into her private life and privacy. “I have been informed by several media that they will continue to publish even more lewd graphical, sensational stories of my private life. I have also been told there will be a fresh assault, with more photographs and videos released and circulated in order to completely degrade and bury me,” she said, referring to the circulation of intimate images of her. “This is the darkest hour of my life. I have never felt so alone, vulnerable and humiliated. I need to rest and to search for peace of mind, to get away from the stormy events surrounding me,” she said yesterday in a statement which began with “I have departed today.” Wong, 40, said she had informed her party leaders of her decision and sought their understanding of her predicament. In expressing her appreciation for overwhelming support from all quarters, in particular her voters, women and party comrades in her hour of turmoil, she said,” Words cannot express my gratitude for your gentle kindness.” Wong also pleaded to the media as well as her supporters to allow her some peace of mind and give her some space. She urged the media to leave her family and friends alone and wish the public would concentrate on other important issues. “The nation is at a crisis facing a serious economic recession. Unemployment is rising while corruption remains rampant. I wish public discussions would concentrate on these important issues rather than analysing my private life.” The politician’s private life became a hot topic when intimate photographs of her taken in the privacy of her bedroom were circulated on the Internet.