KUCHING, May 7 (Bernama) -- Padungan assemblyman Dominique Ng, his wife and eight Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members were detained tonight for holding an illegal gathering at the Kuching waterfront here.
Dressed in all black, they were believed to have assembled there to protest the arrest of Bersih activisit Wong Chin Huiat under the Sedition Act on Tuesday and what happened at the Perak State Assembly sitting today.
Kuching police chief ACP Wong Wai Loong told Bernama when contacted tonight that they were detained for refusing to heed police advice to disperse.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Nizar: Assembly 'illegal and unconstitutional' - Malaysiakini
Kuek Ser Kuang Keng & Andrew Ong | May 7, 09 6:38pm
Pakatan Rakyat is maintaining that the Perak state assembly did not convene today and Barisan Nasional's actions in the state assembly hall were "illegal and unconstitutional".
This was despite Pakatan participating in the assembly ‘proceedings' which saw the Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah reading the royal address before the sitting was adjourned.
Speaking to reporters after BN-appointed speaker R Ganesan adjourned the sitting, Nizar slammed the police and BN ‘samseng' (thugs) for interfering with the proceedings.
He also lashed out at the BN and its cohorts for forcefully removing speaker V Sivakumar and physically hurting Pakatan state representatives.
"Their actions were evil and violated the sanctity of the house," he said, while being flanked by his assemblypersons and speaker Sivakumar.
Pakatan Rakyat is maintaining that the Perak state assembly did not convene today and Barisan Nasional's actions in the state assembly hall were "illegal and unconstitutional".This was despite Pakatan participating in the assembly ‘proceedings' which saw the Perak Regent Raja Nazrin Shah reading the royal address before the sitting was adjourned.
Speaking to reporters after BN-appointed speaker R Ganesan adjourned the sitting, Nizar slammed the police and BN ‘samseng' (thugs) for interfering with the proceedings.
He also lashed out at the BN and its cohorts for forcefully removing speaker V Sivakumar and physically hurting Pakatan state representatives.
"Their actions were evil and violated the sanctity of the house," he said, while being flanked by his assemblypersons and speaker Sivakumar.
Bar says today was a bleak day for democracy - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — The Bar Council condemned the police interference and what it says was “unwarranted action” in putting down protests and removing V. Sivakumar from the Speaker’s chair in the Perak state assembly today.
Ragunath Kesavan, the Bar Council president, said in a statement today that that the police acted in an unjustifiable and unacceptable manner when they physically removed Sivakumar from the assembly.
The Perak state assembly sitting was thrown into a state of chaos with shoving and shouting matches between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional lawmakers.
In a controversial move, BN lawmakers attended a sitting in one corner of the assembly which was presided over by deputy speaker Hee Yit Foong, and voted to remove Sivakumar as Speaker of the assembly.
The move will most certainly be questioned as the sitting had at that point not been declared open yet by Raja Nazrin Shah.
BN assemblymen subsequently had R Ganesan declared the new speaker. Plainclothes policemen then came into the assembly and forcibly removed Sivakumar from the speaker’s chair.
Aside from what happened in the assembly, Ragunath was also scathing in his comments about the dozens of arrests made outside the assembly, and for blocking invited guests from entering the state secretariat building.
“It is obvious that the conflicts that are currently being played out arise from the lack of clarity and certainty about which political coalition commands the majority in the Dewan Undangan Negeri Perak.
“Issues as to whether certain assemblymen should be permitted to attend the sitting, who the Speaker should be, the seating arrangements within the Dewan itself, all these and more are mere side-issues. Even when all is said and done, and the court decisions have been made, they may not reflect the will of the people.
“As such, the only solution must be to go back to the people.”
Ipoh ‘a warzone’, says Kit Siang - Malaysian Insider
UPDATED 12.00pm
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang argues with police personnel over not being allowed to enter the Perak state secretariat building
GOF personnel stand guard outside a restaurant near the Perak state secretariat building to enforce the 500m ban from the building
Police arrest Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub in Ipoh today.
* Ipoh restaurant owners refuse to close shop. Police give up and instead start buying drinks
* Police order closure of all restaurants in vicinity of state secretariat in order to disperse crowds
* Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Rawa arrested in Ipoh
Yet another arrest, this time of Sg Siput Member of Parliament Jeyakumar, who was detained about 10m from the so-called “democracy tree”
* According to Lim Kit Siang, those arrested so far include Lau Dak Kee, DAP veteran chairman, former rep R.K. Muthu, blogger Zorro (Bernard Khoo), Lee Kong Hing, previous Negri Sembilan state organising secretary, Sg Pinang rep Koid Teng Guan, Bahau rep Tey Kok Seong, Temiang rep Ng Chin Tsai, Teratai rep Jenice Lee, Melaka rep Khoo Poay Tiong, Taiping DAP Youth chief Tey Kok Lim.
* PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub detained for illegal assembly about 20m from the so-called “democracy tree”
* 22 people have been arrested so far including former Perak DAP Chief Lau Dak Kee.
Ipoh Barat MP (second left) arguing with Ipoh OCPD Azizman Alias after he and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang were banned from entering the state secretariat building in Ipoh. Pix courtesy of The Star
Teratai ADUN arrested
IPOH, May 7 — Eleven people, including two lawmakers, were arrested and scores others refused entry into the Perak State Secretariat as police locked down Ipoh city into what DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang called "a warzone" ahead of a controversial state assembly meeting.
Traffic was gridlocked as police rolled out barbed wire and mounted road blocks in a 500-metre radius from the building, allowing in only those with special passes and prevent hundreds of protesters clad in black T-shirts from the sitting to be opened by Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah.
Police confiscated two boxes of the banned "One Black Malaysia" printed t-shirt from the Pakatan Rakyat supporters stall in Manjoi. Pix courtesy of The Star
"This has become a war zone. This is a national and international disgrace. Even when we have received official invites from the speaker, we are refused entry," Lim told reporters outside the restricted zone after his car was stopped from entry.
"It is most shameful and outrageous," the Ipoh Timur MP added. Beside him was Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran who was also not allowed into the complex. Kula's personal aide was earlier detained by police for refusing to leave the place.
PKR Wanita chief and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin and DAP's Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee were also among those arrested. Both were clad in black T-shirts and wore caps that said “Bubarkan DUN” or “Dissolve the State Assembly”, a key demand by the Pakatan Rakyat government toppled by Barisan Nasional in early February.
The electoral reform group Bersih, comprising opposition parties and some activists, urged Malaysians to wear back today, prompting police to arrest its spokesman Wong Chin Huat two days ago for sedition. The media studies lecturer is expected to be released from police remand tomorrow.
It is learnt that police have seized 200 black T-shirts emblazoned with the words “1BlackMalaysia” from a stall near a Kampung Manjoi surau where PAS supporters had earlier performed subuh or dawn prayers. Police had earlier warned against people gathering or wearing black.
They also shut down the roads around the state secretariat, causing traffic congestion in this normally sleepy capital city. Police said the roads will be reopened later in the day.
Ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his executive council together with backbenchers, equalling the Barisan Nasional numbers at 28, were taken with police escort to attend the sitting in the 59-seat assembly.
Three other lawmakers are independent after they walked out of Pakatan and precipated the imbroglio.
Police yesterday set up roadblocks at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover.
They had obtained a court order to prevent illegal gatherings around the state secretariat and traffic police were on hand to divert traffic around the government sector in Ipoh.
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang argues with police personnel over not being allowed to enter the Perak state secretariat building
GOF personnel stand guard outside a restaurant near the Perak state secretariat building to enforce the 500m ban from the building
Police arrest Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub in Ipoh today.* Ipoh restaurant owners refuse to close shop. Police give up and instead start buying drinks
* Police order closure of all restaurants in vicinity of state secretariat in order to disperse crowds
* Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Rawa arrested in Ipoh
Yet another arrest, this time of Sg Siput Member of Parliament Jeyakumar, who was detained about 10m from the so-called “democracy tree”* According to Lim Kit Siang, those arrested so far include Lau Dak Kee, DAP veteran chairman, former rep R.K. Muthu, blogger Zorro (Bernard Khoo), Lee Kong Hing, previous Negri Sembilan state organising secretary, Sg Pinang rep Koid Teng Guan, Bahau rep Tey Kok Seong, Temiang rep Ng Chin Tsai, Teratai rep Jenice Lee, Melaka rep Khoo Poay Tiong, Taiping DAP Youth chief Tey Kok Lim.
* PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub detained for illegal assembly about 20m from the so-called “democracy tree”
* 22 people have been arrested so far including former Perak DAP Chief Lau Dak Kee.
Ipoh Barat MP (second left) arguing with Ipoh OCPD Azizman Alias after he and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang were banned from entering the state secretariat building in Ipoh. Pix courtesy of The Star
Teratai ADUN arrestedIPOH, May 7 — Eleven people, including two lawmakers, were arrested and scores others refused entry into the Perak State Secretariat as police locked down Ipoh city into what DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang called "a warzone" ahead of a controversial state assembly meeting.
Traffic was gridlocked as police rolled out barbed wire and mounted road blocks in a 500-metre radius from the building, allowing in only those with special passes and prevent hundreds of protesters clad in black T-shirts from the sitting to be opened by Raja Muda Raja Nazrin Shah.
Police confiscated two boxes of the banned "One Black Malaysia" printed t-shirt from the Pakatan Rakyat supporters stall in Manjoi. Pix courtesy of The Star"This has become a war zone. This is a national and international disgrace. Even when we have received official invites from the speaker, we are refused entry," Lim told reporters outside the restricted zone after his car was stopped from entry.
"It is most shameful and outrageous," the Ipoh Timur MP added. Beside him was Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran who was also not allowed into the complex. Kula's personal aide was earlier detained by police for refusing to leave the place.
PKR Wanita chief and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamarudin and DAP's Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee were also among those arrested. Both were clad in black T-shirts and wore caps that said “Bubarkan DUN” or “Dissolve the State Assembly”, a key demand by the Pakatan Rakyat government toppled by Barisan Nasional in early February.
The electoral reform group Bersih, comprising opposition parties and some activists, urged Malaysians to wear back today, prompting police to arrest its spokesman Wong Chin Huat two days ago for sedition. The media studies lecturer is expected to be released from police remand tomorrow.
It is learnt that police have seized 200 black T-shirts emblazoned with the words “1BlackMalaysia” from a stall near a Kampung Manjoi surau where PAS supporters had earlier performed subuh or dawn prayers. Police had earlier warned against people gathering or wearing black.
They also shut down the roads around the state secretariat, causing traffic congestion in this normally sleepy capital city. Police said the roads will be reopened later in the day.
Ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his executive council together with backbenchers, equalling the Barisan Nasional numbers at 28, were taken with police escort to attend the sitting in the 59-seat assembly.
Three other lawmakers are independent after they walked out of Pakatan and precipated the imbroglio.
Police yesterday set up roadblocks at the Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab-Jalan St John junction and near the Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman flyover.
They had obtained a court order to prevent illegal gatherings around the state secretariat and traffic police were on hand to divert traffic around the government sector in Ipoh.
Chaotic Perak Assembly Sitting With Two Speakers - Bernama
IPOH, May 7 (Bernama) -- Commotion reigned at the Perak state assembly sitting today after Speaker V. Sivakumar refused to start proceedings for as long as Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, the six Barisan Nasional (BN) executive councillors and three Independent assemblymen were in the House.
Immediately after taking his seat at about 10am, Sivakumar ordered the 10 assemblymen to leave the hall on the basis that they had been suspended.
The commotion that ensued left the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah waiting in the holding Royal Room, for the official opening of the assembly session.
Zambry and the other nine assemblymen, however, ignored Sivakumar's order.
Former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin and his former executive council (exco) members remained seated at the seats allocated for the Menteri Besar and exco members, while Zambry and the new exco members were seated on the opposition side.
Zambry then stood and proposed a motion to sack Sivakumar as Speaker, with the 27 BN assemblymen and three Independents raising their hands in support.
But Sivakumar rejected the motion and explained that Zambry could not table the motion as he had been suspended from the assembly.
This caused the assemblymen on both sides of the political divide to hurl insults at each other.
Zambry then proposed the motion again which was supported by the BN and Independent assemblymen.
In response, Sivakumar ordered the House sergeant-at-arms to remove the 10 assemblymen but Zambry said that Sivakumar had been expelled.
At 10.48am, Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Fong then took over to preside over the assembly sitting from the opposition seat.
Zambry then proposed that former Sungkai assemblyman Datuk R. Ganesan be appointed as the new Speaker and the motion was supported by the BN assemblymen and Independents.
The commotion continued with Sivakumar still acting as Speaker.
Immediately after taking his seat at about 10am, Sivakumar ordered the 10 assemblymen to leave the hall on the basis that they had been suspended.
The commotion that ensued left the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah waiting in the holding Royal Room, for the official opening of the assembly session.
Zambry and the other nine assemblymen, however, ignored Sivakumar's order.
Former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin and his former executive council (exco) members remained seated at the seats allocated for the Menteri Besar and exco members, while Zambry and the new exco members were seated on the opposition side.
Zambry then stood and proposed a motion to sack Sivakumar as Speaker, with the 27 BN assemblymen and three Independents raising their hands in support.
But Sivakumar rejected the motion and explained that Zambry could not table the motion as he had been suspended from the assembly.
This caused the assemblymen on both sides of the political divide to hurl insults at each other.
Zambry then proposed the motion again which was supported by the BN and Independent assemblymen.
In response, Sivakumar ordered the House sergeant-at-arms to remove the 10 assemblymen but Zambry said that Sivakumar had been expelled.
At 10.48am, Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Fong then took over to preside over the assembly sitting from the opposition seat.
Zambry then proposed that former Sungkai assemblyman Datuk R. Ganesan be appointed as the new Speaker and the motion was supported by the BN assemblymen and Independents.
The commotion continued with Sivakumar still acting as Speaker.
1 Malaysia, 2 Peraks — The Malaysian Insider
MAY 7 — As events continue their rollercoaster ride in Perak, chaos has moved from the streets that Lim Kit Siang called “a war zone” to inside the Perak State Assembly where rival state speakers have joined rival mentris besar and executive councils.
What began as a solitary defection to Pakatan Rakyat before Chinese New Year has now turned into pandemonium in the House with Barisan Nasional at the helm and its palace-appointed mentri besar facing off Pakatan's Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.
And today, the House has two speakers, with defecting Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong, who was the tipping point that ended Pakatan's rule, again playing the key role in the chambers.
While the fracas continues and has just stopped for an hour's “adjournment” by the Barisan Nasional side, the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, remains outside waiting to address the sitting that was consented by his father Sultan Azlan Shah.
However, no one has left the House yet, save the state mufti and other officials.
When will this farce end?
All we know is it won't end today, not even if Barisan Nasional auctions off all the cars and moves on to appoint officials, enact laws, plan policies and implement them in the near future.
The fate of the rival state governments rests with the courts of law, which have opened a Pandora's Box and breached all rules of separation of powers in a parliamentary democracy that Malaysia was founded on.
At least outside the state secretariat building, peace has reigned once again as policemen who tried to force restaurants to close in a bid to disperse the black-clad crowds have given up. They had earlier arrested scores of people, including lawmakers, in an attempt to keep the peace.
The heat of the day has made them thirsty and the shopkeepers are providing relief.
One would expect the same from the lawmakers inside. All the barbed wire and road blocks outside the building together with a court order to stop gatherings have come to naught to keep the peace and restore order in the Silver State.
For the lawmakers are still fighting it out for their version of “1 Malaysia. People First. Performance Now”.
Except, we now have two Peraks. And never the twain shall meet. At least not today.
What began as a solitary defection to Pakatan Rakyat before Chinese New Year has now turned into pandemonium in the House with Barisan Nasional at the helm and its palace-appointed mentri besar facing off Pakatan's Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.
And today, the House has two speakers, with defecting Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong, who was the tipping point that ended Pakatan's rule, again playing the key role in the chambers.
While the fracas continues and has just stopped for an hour's “adjournment” by the Barisan Nasional side, the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, remains outside waiting to address the sitting that was consented by his father Sultan Azlan Shah.
However, no one has left the House yet, save the state mufti and other officials.
When will this farce end?
All we know is it won't end today, not even if Barisan Nasional auctions off all the cars and moves on to appoint officials, enact laws, plan policies and implement them in the near future.
The fate of the rival state governments rests with the courts of law, which have opened a Pandora's Box and breached all rules of separation of powers in a parliamentary democracy that Malaysia was founded on.
At least outside the state secretariat building, peace has reigned once again as policemen who tried to force restaurants to close in a bid to disperse the black-clad crowds have given up. They had earlier arrested scores of people, including lawmakers, in an attempt to keep the peace.
The heat of the day has made them thirsty and the shopkeepers are providing relief.
One would expect the same from the lawmakers inside. All the barbed wire and road blocks outside the building together with a court order to stop gatherings have come to naught to keep the peace and restore order in the Silver State.
For the lawmakers are still fighting it out for their version of “1 Malaysia. People First. Performance Now”.
Except, we now have two Peraks. And never the twain shall meet. At least not today.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Bar Council, opposition condemn arrest of Wong Chin Huat - Sun
PETALING JAYA (May 6,2009) : The Malaysian Bar today condemned the arrest of social activist and writer Wong Chin Huat under the Sedition Act 1948.
Its president Ragunath Kesavan said: "The Bar is concerned that the police have resorted to the use of the Act yet again to stifle public opinion and dissenting voices that are unfavourable to the ruling government. The police should be above politics.
"The police must remain above politics to regain public confidence as an institution not mired in politics. It must not be seen as a tool to intimidate and cow those who express disagreement."
"The arrest of Wong, seemingly for the 'crime' of advocating that those who disagree with the events unfolding in Perak wear black tomorrow, does not augur well for the Prime Minister's promise of openness and respect for the people. Healthy and open debate on issues of public concern must be permitted," he said.
Ragunath, who condemned the manner in which Wong was arrested yesterday night and denied counsel, said the Bar was firmly opposed to the Act which he labelled an "affront to democracy".
"We reiterate our stand that authoritarian and repressive legislation such as the Act is an absolute affront to democracy. We strongly urge the Government to repeal the Act, and to refrain from using it, particularly against those whose viewpoints differ from the ruling government's," said Ragunath who called for the release of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) spokesman.
Wong's arrest was also condemned by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who defended Wong's call for all Malaysians to wear black in protest of the Barisan Nasional takeover of the Perak government.
"Wong's call to the public to wear black on May 7 as a sign of protest is an opinion that is not in breach of his rights as a citizen of Malaysia and the practice of democracy," he added.
DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) deputy chairman Jenice Lee called on all Malaysians to heed the call by Bersih to wear black today as a sign of protest over the Barisan Nasional (BN) takeover of the Perak State Assembly.
Its president Ragunath Kesavan said: "The Bar is concerned that the police have resorted to the use of the Act yet again to stifle public opinion and dissenting voices that are unfavourable to the ruling government. The police should be above politics."The police must remain above politics to regain public confidence as an institution not mired in politics. It must not be seen as a tool to intimidate and cow those who express disagreement."
"The arrest of Wong, seemingly for the 'crime' of advocating that those who disagree with the events unfolding in Perak wear black tomorrow, does not augur well for the Prime Minister's promise of openness and respect for the people. Healthy and open debate on issues of public concern must be permitted," he said.
Ragunath, who condemned the manner in which Wong was arrested yesterday night and denied counsel, said the Bar was firmly opposed to the Act which he labelled an "affront to democracy".
"We reiterate our stand that authoritarian and repressive legislation such as the Act is an absolute affront to democracy. We strongly urge the Government to repeal the Act, and to refrain from using it, particularly against those whose viewpoints differ from the ruling government's," said Ragunath who called for the release of the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) spokesman.
Wong's arrest was also condemned by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who defended Wong's call for all Malaysians to wear black in protest of the Barisan Nasional takeover of the Perak government.
"Wong's call to the public to wear black on May 7 as a sign of protest is an opinion that is not in breach of his rights as a citizen of Malaysia and the practice of democracy," he added.
DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) deputy chairman Jenice Lee called on all Malaysians to heed the call by Bersih to wear black today as a sign of protest over the Barisan Nasional (BN) takeover of the Perak State Assembly.
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