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Monday, 27 July 2009

Cops, officials block Pakatan Perak assembly inquiry

IPOH, July 27 — Another drama unfolded at the Perak state assembly building this morning when police and state government officials blocked Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Speaker V. Sivakumar and other members of the rights and privileges committee from holding a meeting inside.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Sivakumar had called the inquiry there at 10am following a complaint lodged by Pokok Assam assemblyman Yee Seu Kai against the Barisan Nasional (BN) appointed Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan.

Two others, lawyer Tommy Thomas and Sitiawan assemblyman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who were called to attend as witnesses were also barred.

Ganesan, however, was not present. According to sources, he is now out of the state and had earlier said he would not be attending the inquiry.

Police had blocked off access to the building from as early as 7am.

Ngeh, who arrived at about 9.50am, was furious to find the gates closed. Pushing himself to the front, he demanded to be let in.

State secretariat officials resisted, insisting that they had not been informed of the meeting beforehand, which triggered loud protests from the PR assemblymen present.

The state lawmakers claimed they had already given notice to the assembly secretary, Misbahul Munir Masduki. They demanded an official letter from the state secretariat to show why they could not carry out their work inside.

When the principal assistant to the state secretary, Shamsuzzaman Sulaiman, turned up with the letter, the PR lawmakers kicked up another fuss over the details.

They insisted it be changed and Shamsuzzaman complied.

But the lawmakers remained dissatisfied.

The inquiry has been postponed to 1pm and moved to the nearby Syuen Hotel.

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