Thesun 2009-02-23 Page03 Pr Plans No-confidence Move Against Zambry

theSun

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| MONDAY FEBRUARY 23 2009

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PR plans no-confidence move against Zambry by Humayun Kabir [email protected]

IPOH: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) plans to table a motion of no confidence against the Barisan Nasional (BN) Perak state government headed by Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir at the next state assembly meeting. PR also plans to table a motion to dissolve the assembly to pave the way for elections in the state, former PR mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said yesterday. The next meeting is expected to be held in April, pending consent of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah. Based on the state constitution, the state assembly must sit within six months of the last sitting (which was last November). “We expect chaos on the first day of the state assembly meeting as the three assemblymen whose state seats have been

declared vacant by the Speaker, and the seven BN state executive council members who were suspended for contempt of the House, may turn up and cause problems,” Nizar told reporters yesterday as he moved out of the mentri besar’s official residence. Indeed, Zambry had on Saturday said he will attend the assembly sitting although Speaker V. Sivakumar had taken action – which was considered as not following procedure – in suspending and barring him and six state executive councillors from attending the sitting. The three, who left their parties to become independents friendly to the BN, are former PKR assemblymen Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and former DAP Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong. Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim, who had earlier defected from Umno to join PR, also rejoined Umno about the same time.

The seven BN exco members suspended by the House Rights and Privileges Committee were Zambry (Pangkor), who has been suspended for 18 months, and state executive councillors Hamidah Osman (Sungai Rapat), Datuk Ramly Zahari (Manong), Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang), Datuk Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan), Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting) and Zainol Fadzi Paharudin(Sungai Manik), who were suspended for 12 months. If the suspension of the seven exco members is upheld, PR would have 28 seats compared to BN’s 24 (inclusive of three independents supporting the coalition). Nizar has filed a suit in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to declare that Zambry’s state government is illegal. The case is due for second mention today. Last week, Sivakumar sought Sultan Azlan’s consent to convene an emergency sitting to dissolve the state assembly but there has been no reply from the palace.

‘Speaker enjoys absolute immunity’ IPOH: Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar enjoys absolute immunity against civil and criminal proceedings in his work as Speaker of the House. Commenting on various threats to initiate criminal investigations or arrest Sivakumar over the last few days, DAP Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming said: “The truth of the matter is that the Speaker is absolutely and totally immune civilly and criminally, for any action carried out by him as a Speaker.” In a statement released yesterday, Nga said Article 72(1) of the Federal Constitution provides that “the validity of any proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of any State shall

not be questioned in any court.” Article 72(2) of the Federal Constitution provides that “No person shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him when taking part in proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of any State or of any committee thereof.” Section 2 of the Legislative Assembly (Privileges) Enactment, 1959, provides that “There shall be freedom of speech and debate or proceedings in the Assembly and such freedom of speech and debate or proceedings shall not be liable to be impeached or questioned in any court or tribunal out of the

Assembly.” Section 3 of the Legislative Assembly (Privileges) Enactment 1959 provides that “No member shall be liable to any civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment, or damages by reason of any matter or thing which he may have brought by petition, bill, resolution, motion or otherwise, or have said before the Assembly or any committee.” “It is within the Speaker’s power to issue contempt proceedings to people who are defiant of any of his order,” Nga said, adding that by lodging police report or instituting investigation against him, they were contravening the laws.

Residents petition for Wong to stay on by Maria J.Dass [email protected]

PETALING JAYA: Elizabeth Wong’s good track record, her uncompromising stand on environmental conservation, her competence and genuine efforts to help people should count for something, say residents’ groups in Bukit Lanjan who launched a campaign in support of the assemblywoman who offered to resign after partially nude pictures of her were distributed over the Internet. In a convoy which made its way through Bandar Utama, Kota Damasara and Bukit Gasing to Bukit Antarabangsa, residents rallied support for Wong saying they wanted her to continue to serve the constituency as assemblywoman and as state executive councillor for environment, tourism and consumer affairs. “She has been in the frontline defending green lungs in Selangor like Kota Damasara and Bukit Gasing from irresponsible development projects and has been the staunchest opponent of hillslope developments. Bukit Antarabangsa folk will remember her organised and coordinated relief work for victims of the Dec 6, 2008 landslide while some politicians were competing for photo shoots,” the residents said in a statement to the media. They hoped the perpetrator will be penalised for invading her privacy and private life. The group also made a plea to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to advise Mentri Besar Tan Sri

Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to allow Wong to continue her duties as executive councillor, taking into account her track record in protecting the environment, promoting public accountability and empowering marginalised groups. Bukit Lanjan residents also initiated a petition to retain Wong as their assemblywoman and state executive councillor and will submit it to Khalid’s office on Tuesday to be presented to the Sultan. More than 4,600 signatures were collected as at Sunday. Abdul Khalid is expected to meet the Sultan this week. Acknowledging that more images and scenes of Wong’s personal life may be released, Kota Damansara resident Jeffrey Phang said: “We are not disturbed by what we have seen and about what we are about to see.”

Residents of Bandar Utama during the convoy of Friends of Eli Wong tour around the Klang Valley yesterday.

Ivy Josiah, who spoke on behalf of the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, said: “There are threats that new pictures and videos will be exposed... we don’t care, but we condemn the perpetrators because this is a form of violence against women.” A close friend of Wong, Tengku Nazaruddin Tengku Zainudin, who had been working with the economics graduate since her involvement in NGOs, broke down when he spoke about her. “She is a dedicated worker and will not fail anyone who asks for her help – that much I can tell you about her,” he said. The online petition is accessible at walkwith.elizabethwong. org or at facebook “walk with Eli”.

Karpal: More deterrent penalties needed PETALING JAYA: The courts should invoke section 509 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of up to five years with fine or both upon conviction for invading a woman’s privacy, said DAP chairman Karpal Singh. He was commenting on the emergence of intimate photos of Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong and the vulnerability of anyone to these risks due to the availability of sophisticated modern technology. “The humiliation and trauma suffered by Wong is cruelty of the highest order and no effort should be spared by the police to ensure that the perpetrator does not escape the long arms of the law,” he said. The courts should impose deterrent sentences on those found guilty of invading the privacy of women, given the extent to which modern technology paves the way for sick minds to do this and which was unheard of in the old days, he added. Karpal said the punishment imposed for infringement of privacy under section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 is “an insult to anyone’s intelligence” as it provides for a fine not exceeding RM100 – a princely sum in 1955 but far lower in value today. He said the Attorney-General’s (AG) chambers should provide for not only a heavy fine but also a deterrent custodial sentence under section 14 of the Act.

Tunku Ali Redhauddin appointed Tunku Besar Seri Menanti THE Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir confers the title of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti on his eldest son Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz. The title of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti was previously held by Tuanku Muhriz prior to his proclamation as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar on Dec 29 last year. The title of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti is the most senior of the Putera Yang Empat (Four Princes). The other three are the Tunku Laxamana, Tunku Muda Serting and Tunku Panglima Besar, held respectively by Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Ja’afar, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar and Tunku NadzaruddinTuanku Ja’afar. – Bernama

3,000 cameras to ‘catch’ errant motorists KUALA LUMPUR: After nearly three years of study and finetuning, the Automated Enforcement System (AES) is finally to be implemented in the country. Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said about 3,000 cameras would be installed at various locations in the country adding that the tender for the project has been issued. Widely used in Australia, United Kingdom and the United States, the system involves the installation of two types of cameras – speed camera which would be installed at accident-prone areas and the red-light camera at traffic light junctions where there is rampant jumping of red lights. Cameras can also be deployed to catch vehicles plying on emergency lanes and overtaking at “double line” spots. Working in tandem, signs will be erected to warn road users they are entering an area dotted with speed traps, thus cautioning them to observe a certain speed limit. Traffic offenders caught speeding will have their summonses issued directly to them as the cameras would photograph a speeding vehicle and log its vehicle registration number into the Road Transport Department (RTD) and police database. Under the AES, the cameras monitor every vehicle’s movement and record its speed with the information relayed to the two agencies (RTD and police) which would identify speeding vehicles, those beating traffic lights, plying on emergency lane and overtaking at the double line. Apart from reducing fatalities due to accidents, as pointed out by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, AES would also curb corruption as there is no direct contact between the offender and enforcement officers as all information is captured on camera. He said additionally, road bullies could also be closely monitored through the AES system. However, Ong said the quantum of fines – even with the implementation of AES – would remain the same and the only difference is that there will no longer be discretionary exemption for fines. – Bernama

Sexual harassment law KUALA LUMPUR: The government will introduce legislation to tackle issues relating to sexual violence and harassment against women, including the eradication of sexual harassment at the workplace. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Noriah Kasnon said her ministry was in discussions with the Human Resources Ministry about the proposed law on sexual harassment, particularly on the best way to enhance efforts to deal with problems affecting women as well as the existing guidelines. “At present, the Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment introduced in 1999 is the only guideline used by the government to tackle the problem,” she said when opening a seminar on sexual violence and harassment against women at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka yesterday. – Bernama