Thesun 2009-10-29 Page01 Two Sittings In Assembly

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No. 4875 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)

Thursday October 29, 2009

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POH: The Perak State Assembly sitting to approve the 2010 state budget descended into pandemonium yesterday when two rival groups of assemblymen held their “sittings” with separate agendas in the same venue. At the end of the short but noisy sitting – it was over in about two hours – the Barisan Nasional state government led by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir approved a motion on the budget. The Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen led by Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin approved three motions. BN Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan called to order the sitting about 10am with a “doa”, but the Opposition members were noticeably missing. After observing a minute’s silence over the suspension bridge tragedy at Kuala Dipang in which a schoolgirl drowned and two others went missing, Zambry tabled the proposed state budget. At this point, the 28 opposition assemblymen were still outside the House. Ganesan announced a one-hour recess until 11.20am after Zambry had tabled the budget. Shortly after, the Pakatan Rakyat members entered and convened their “sitting”. The BN assemblymen ignored them. Former speaker and Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar began the “sitting” with the “doa” and also asked the assemblymen to observe a moment’s silence. Some BN assemblymen interrupted them, saying “tadi dah buat” (it’s been done), but the retort from Sivakumar and colleagues was: “Itu speaker haram yang buat.” (That was done by the illegal speaker). A. Sivasubramanian (DAPBuntong) asked Ganesan to leave the speaker’s chair, claiming he was not qualified to occupy it as he continued to practise law three months after having been appointed the speaker. Ganesan remained in his seat throughout the PR “sitting” while the BN members ignored the “proceedings” and talked among themselves. At 11am, Nizar tabled a motion to suspend all National Service camps and other outdoor extra-curricular activities in light of the Kampar tragedy, pending the outcome of

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Ex-top official charged with graft

KUALA LUMPUR: A former secretarygeneral of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry was yesterday charged in the Sessions Court with receiving bribes totalling RM59,390.60. Abdul Hanan Alang Endut, 57, pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges and optional charges. Sessions judge Syafeera Mohd Said granted him bail of RM10,000 and fixed Dec 2 for mention. Abdul Hanan (pic), who was transSivakumar, in the speaker’s robe (left) and without it, chaired a sitting and approved three motions yesterday. ferred to the Public Services Department in July, is accused of obtaining a blank cheque belonging to Adam Omar as an incentive to approve a “TechnoFund” application from Global Goodway (M) Sdn Bhd. He allegedly used the cheque to pay RM15,024 for repairs to his house in Section 17, Petaling Jaya. The charge under the Anti-Corruption Act carries a maximum of 20 years jail and a fine of not less than five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is more. In his optional charge, Abdul Hanan, who chaired the fund approval committee, is accused of obtaining a blank cheque from Adam, the owner of Global Goodway, and is alleged to have used the RM15,024 for house repairs. The investigations. This was unaniOutside the state assembly optional charge carries a maximum of mously “approved”. He then spoke premises, about 200 PR supporttwo years jail, or a fine or both. on the findings of the 2008 Auditor- ers gathered near the Perak DAP All the other charges are worded General’s Report, saying that his office nearby, with some among similarly to the main and optional administration had done well the crowd performing the “solat charges except for the amount of (during its 10-month tenure). hajat” (prayer of need) and others bribe. Abdul Hanan is alleged to Shortly after, Sivakumar shouting various slogans. have used the cheques, among adjourned the “sitting” and the Ipoh police chief ACP Azisman others, to pay for house repairs, PR assemblymen left the House at Alias said the situation was under zakat for income for 2008, credit 11.45am. control and there was no illegal Foreign firms to be given 100% equity card, house assessment and water However, the BN sitting had assembly. in firms which produce luxury vehicles with bill and service charges, quit rent resumed at 11.20am, and after more He said more than 200 policemen an engine capacity of more than 1,800cc and to put it into his wife Norihan noisy exchanges, Zambry tabled a had been deployed around the state and costing more than RM150,000. Ahmad’s bank account. motion to adjourn the BN sitting assembly building and that police Open Approved Permits for used All the offences were allegedly sine die, and it was passed. instructions were adhered to. vehicles scrapped by Dec 31, 2015. committed at No. 25, Jalan 17/21, Earlier, before the sitting started, The PR state government lost its Franchise APs to end by Dec 31, Section 17, Petaling Jaya between there was drama when Sivakumar majority in the House when three 2020. Dec 1 and 15 last year. claimed that police grabbed his opposition assemblymen became import duties on all completely-builtCounsel Badrul Munir Bukhari songkok. He was wearing the BN-friendly independents early up and completely-knocked-down cars told the court that Datuk Muhamspeaker’s ceremonial robe but was this year. This sparked a prolonged to be maintained. mad Shafee Abdullah will lead prevented from going in with it. He legal battle in the courts that has yet Full story in Page 13 Abdul Hanan’s defence team. later entered without his robe. to end. – Agencies

Two sittings in assembly

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