The Perak political turmoil has now shifted from the courtrooms to the state assembly that would convene on May 7, six days before the compulsory six-month deadline to hold the sitting expires.

It is understood that notices for the sitting were sent out today by state assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri. Under normal circumstances, such notices will only be issued under the speaker's instructions.

V Sivakumar Adding to the confusion, Abdullah Antong was suspended indefinitely by Speaker V Sivakumar ( left ) on March 2 for insubordination and was replaced by Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki.

Contacted today, Pantai Remis assemblyperson Nga Kor Ming said the notice for the state assembly was "very unusual" given that the speaker had not instructed the secretary to do so.

"According to Parliamentary conventions in Commonwealth countries, the secretary acts on the directives of the speaker. Sivakumar is the only legitimate speaker and it is very unusual and extraordinary of the secretary to do so.

"Can you imagine Pandikar (Amin, Parliament speaker) not authorising a sitting, but the secretary issues such a notice? Whatever it is, the secretary must discuss matters with the speaker," he said.

dr zambry abd kadir perak new cm bn 050209 Yesterday, Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir and his six executive council members succeeded in obtaining a declaration from the Federal Court which lifted the suspension order against them from entering the state assembly by Sivakumar.

Together with the April 9 Federal Court decision which allowed three Perak independent state reps to keep their seats, Zambry now commands the majority of 31 state reps in the 59 seat assembly.

Removal of speaker on the cards?

The first thing on Barisan Nasional's agenda is almost likely to be the removal of Sivakumar as speaker.

Secondly, BN is likely to table a vote of confidence on Zambry as the legitimate menteri besar of Perak - a matter currently disputed by ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin in the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Nizar, who maintains that he is the legitimate menteri besar, is challenging Zambry to show cause, or quo warranto, as to why the latter should be considered the menteri besar.

nga kor ming On this matter, Nga ( right ) said Zambry's calling for the state assembly on May 7 was disrespecting the courts as the Kuala Lumpur High Court would be hearing Nizar's suit against Zambry beginning May 5.

"Is BN the unseen hand behind the judiciary? Are they holding the assembly sitting because the court case is a foregone conclusion?" he asked.

At press time, Zambry has not made any public announcement on the state assembly sitting.