THE TEMASEK REVIEW

By Clara Chooi from The Malaysian Insider

The Perak state assembly proceedings turned farcical again, just as it did on May 7, with both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) holding separate proceedings in the same hall amid some minor scuffles.

Both BN and PR held simultaneous sittings in the same hall presided over by the current Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan and the man who was physically ousted on May 7, V. Sivakumar.

The proceedings began at 10am by Ganesan, who was seated in the speaker’s chair even before the media were allowed into the hall at 9.30am.

At the time, BN assemblymen too were seated and ready.

When the proceedings began, however, the PR assemblymen were nowhere in sight.

It was learned later that they were accosted at the entrance into the hall by policemen who tried to rip off the speaker’s ceremonial robes, which former speaker Sivakumar had put on.

According to PR assemblymen, the scuffle was violent and turned into something of a fist fight as some in the group of 28 attempted to protect Sivakumar from being harassed.

Despite this, however, the robe as well as the speaker’s songkok were successfully confiscated by the police.

Inside the assembly hall, the proceedings continued in a silence so deafening many pressmen found it hard to concentrate.

No one knew where the PR assemblymen were and those stationed outside the State Secretariat had already reported that the group had been allowed in without much ceremony.

Prior to the assembly proceedings, Ganesan called for the 31 BN assemblymen and all those in the hall to stand and observe a minute of silence to mark the tragedy in Kampar yesterday, when one girl died after a suspension bridge collapsed.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir then stood to push for a motion to change the order of the day.

Before the clock hit 10.30am, however, loud noises were heard outside the assembly hall coming from the back entrance, which was designated specifically for the BN assemblymen.

At the time, Ganesan had just decided to adjourn the sitting to 11.20am.

Sivakumar and his PR colleagues then marched into the hall, and the ousted Speaker proceeded to call the assembly to order.

Ousted Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin then tables a motion calling for all 1 Malaysia and National Service camps to be suspended following the Kampar tragedy.

A separate motion was also tabled calling for the assembly to be dissolved. It was passed by PR representatives while their BN colleagues ignored them and chatted with each other.

Sivakumar then adjourns the PR “assembly”.

But all hell broke loose again when Ganesan called for the assembly to order as Sivakumar proceeded to do the same.

Both BN and PR assemblymen then proceed to out-shout each other with two assemblies going on at the same time, and the legislature descended into a theatre of absurdity. – The Malaysian Insider

2 Responses to “Two sittings, scuffles and a lot of shouting at the Perak assembly”