IPOH, Feb 22 – Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin has clarified that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) intends to table a vote of confidence in his government when the Perak state assembly convenes.
He called a press conference in the afternoon to correct remarks made to reporters earlier that he intended to initiate a no-confidence motion against the Barisan Nasional (BN) government of Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir. The comments were made before he moved out of the official mentri besar’s residence here this morning.
And the Pas man anticipates turmoil because of the expected challenges from BN to the move.
Nizare said PR expects to win such a vote as Perak Speaker V Sivakumar is likely to bar Zambry and his state executive councillors from attending proceedings after recently meting out suspensions against them.This means PR will have the advantage with 28 assemblyman against BN’s 21 allowed to vote.
“We will table the motion and see who will get the majority,” Nizar told reporters today.
Sivakumar will seek consent from the Sultan of Perak to convene a sitting of the legislature, Nizar said.
Under the Perak state constitution, not more than six months can elapse between sittings of the assembly. While only the Sultan can convene sittings, he is bound by the constitution to call for an assembly by early May.
Nizar also brushed aside Zambry’s remarks yesterday that he would still attend proceedings.
“They have been suspended by the Speaker,” he said, referring to the six exco members as well as Zambry.
He argued that the Speaker had full powers to suspend or expel lawmakers and that the decision is final.
Umno and BN leaders are disputing this assertion, and are contending that suspensions must be voted on by the assembly.
The Perak state constitution says that the assembly may regulate its own procedure.
Umno is expected to attempt to challenge the Speaker’s decision in court, but it is still unclear if such decisions are subject to judicial review.
“Umno is now terrified and worried,” Nizar told reporters.
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