Court: Sivakumar has no power to suspend Zambry, excos

The Star

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court ruled Thursday that Perak Assemby Speaker V. Sivakumar did not have the power to suspend Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his six executive council members from the assembly.

The Court then lifted the suspension on Dr Zambry and his six executive council members and said the seven could attend the next assembly sitting.

Court of Appeal president Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, who chaired the five-man panel Thursday said that the decision was "unanimous".

Meanwhile, Dr Zamby said that the notice calling for state assembly would be issued Friday or next week.

Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar suspended Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his six excos from all State Assembly sittings for 18 months in February soon after Barisan took over Perak and appointed Zambry as new mentri besar.

State power moved from Pakatan Rakyat to Barisan Nasional when three Pakatan state assemblymen quit the party and became Barisan-friendly independents, tilting the power in favour of Barisan.

Barisan then obtained the Sultan of Perak’s assent to Dr Zambry as the new Mentri Besar and the six as excos.

Pakatan questioned the legitimacy of Dr Zambry as mentri Besar and the matter went court.