Thursday, February 5, 2009

Latest on Perak - Malaysiakini and Star

Feb 5, 09 10:25am

The Star:


(4:21pm) Police and FRU have taken over the State Secretariat building. Once Sultan Azlan Shah declared the Mentri Besar and excos must step down, the state secretary sent letters to all excos telling them to surrender their belongings, such as keys and cars etc. He also went to the offices of the excos and told all their personal assistants to leave immediately.

(3:30pm) PM is seeking an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah later Thursday evening.

(2.25pm): Sultan Azlan Shah does not consent to dissolution of state assembly and asks Nizar to resign as Perak Mentri Besar, reports Bernama quoting a statement from the Sultan's office. If Nizar fails to do so, the post would be considered as vacant.

1:10pm) MB Nizar, looking cheerful, just left Istana Kinta and said that Anwar will give a press conference at 3pm at his residence

(12:30pm) IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan warns of stern action against Pakatan Rakyat supporters who take part in illegal gatherings in Ipoh

(11:56am) Najib told reporters that he has informed Sultan Azlan Shah that Barisan has the majority to form the Perak state government. He said the Ruler will announce his decision soon.

(11:55am) Perak speaker V. Sivakumar has just left the High Court after applying to the court to declare the resignation letters of the three assembymen as valid and, therefore, their seats vacant.

(11:50am) PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be at Perak Mentri Besar’s office at 3pm and a mammoth gathering is planned for 7pm at the MB’s residence.

Malaysiakini:

4.15pm A source inside the Pakatan meeting at the MB's residence say that the atmosphere inside is sombre. Anwar is chairing the meeting, with everyone is being allowed to have a say.

4.14pm Unconfirmed reports state that former DAP state assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong's house in Ipoh and her service centre in Jelapang have been pelted with stones by people angry with her defection.

4.10pm Roads leading to the state secretariat have been blocked by the police to stop people from gathering there.

4.05pm: State secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim instructs Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar and all exco members to vacate their offices at the state secretariat as soon as possible. They have been reminded not to take any official documents with them. They were also told to hand in their official car keys as well as the keys to their offices



3.25pm: It learnt that Mohd Nizar will announce his refusal to resign as requested by the sultan.

3.20pm All top Pakatan leaders are in a meeting at Mohd Nizar's official residence to chart their next course of action. A press conference is expected to be held soon. Notable absentees are Kedah MB Azizan Razak and Kelantan MB Niz Aziz Nik Mat.

About 30 supporters have gathered outside the residence. A big team of some 50 journalists are also waiting there.

2.27pm: Bernama reports that the Sultan of Perak has rejected the request by Mohd Nizar for the dissolution of the state assembly. The report also said that the sultan has asked Mohd Nizar to step down to pave the way for a power transfer.

2.14pm: Tonight's 100,000 people gathering in support of the Pakatan government has been shifted to Stadium Ipoh from the menteri besar's official residence.

The police have issued warnings against those who take part in "illegal gatherings" in Ipoh.

2pm: Anwar arrives at Mohd Nizar's house. He is expected to hold a press conference together the menteri besar and Penang CM Lim Guan Eng at 3pm.

1.32pm: PKR source says that the sultan had asked Mohd Nizar to step down as menteri besar to allow a smooth transistion of power at their brief meeting today but the latter had refused to do so.

1.30pm: Najib just ended his Perak Umno meeting and left the party's state headquarters without calling a press conference. It is learnt there was a discussion on who to be appointed as new menteri besar.

1.25pm: Najib is still at the Umno meeting. However, it is learnt that he will not be holding a press conference after the meeting.

1.05pm: Perak MB Mohd Nizar leaves the palace. He waved and smiled at reporters. He just said: "Good signs. Alhamdulliah." His meeting with the sultan lasted 15 minutes. He had entered the palace at 12.50pm.

Mohd Nizar will be holding a press conference along with Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP leader Lim Guan Eng at 3pm.

12.50pm: Najib is presently chairing an Umno meeting in Ipoh where the choice of the new menteri besar is being discussed. He is expected to call for a press conference within the next hour.

12.40pm: There is an indication that Sultan Azlan Shah will allow Barisan Nasional to form a state government with the participation of three independents.

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