Zambry explains why speaker was ejected
Malaysiakini TeamPublished: May 7, 2009 11:48 AM | Updated: May 7, 2009 3:00 PM
Barisan Nasional Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Zambry Abdul Kadir has admitted that it was BN Speaker R Ganesan who ordered for the police to forcefully remove Pakatan Rakyat Speaker V Sivakumar from the state assembly hall.
Barisan Nasional Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Zambry Abdul Kadir has conceded that it was BN speaker R Ganesan who ordered for the police to forcefully remove Pakatan Rakyat speaker V Sivakumar from the state assembly hall.
"The (BN) speaker was forced to call the police and state government personnel inside the hall," he said, blaming Pakatan state reps for disrupting the proceedings.
"They rudely attacked BN and independent representatives as well as created a chaotic and uncontrolled situation," he said.
Earlier today, Sivakumar had ordered Zambry, his six executive council (exco) members and three independents to leave the house, but the 10 refused.
Subsequently, Sivakumar said that he would not start the proceedings until they did.
Zambry and his six excos were suspended from the assembly by the Special Privileges Committee for contempt in February, while the seats of the three independents were declared vacant after Sivakumar received their resignation letters earlier this year.
Following this, chaos ensued when Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong, who is deputy speaker, took over the proceedings and 'convened' a sitting at the BN's corner of the assembly hall.
During this 'sitting within a sitting', BN state reps 'passed' four motions, including the removal of Sivakumar and the installation of Ganesan as the new speaker.
Ganesan had 'no choice'
Elaborating on Sivakumar's forceful removal by the police this afternoon, Zambry said Ganesan repeatedly ordered Sivakumar to vacate his seat, but the latter refused.
"Ganesan then ordered the sargeant-at-arms to escort Sivakumar back to the floor (but) the sargeant-at-arms was roughed up by several opposition representatives and there was a scuffle.
"Ganesan had no choice but to order the police to assist the sargeant-at-arms," he said, adding that under Standing Order 90, the speaker can issue orders not specified in the Standing Orders.
Zambry also stressed that Pakatan reps should understand that the majority rules the state assembly.
"We cannot allow the tyranny of the minority. The minority cannot rule," he said.
Zambry also expressed regret that the opposition acted rudely and impolitely and failed to respect the royal institution by making the Perak Regent wait for six hours.
"They acted using laws of the jungle and did not respect the rules," he said.
'The majority rules'
Earlier, Ganesan told reporters that he does not see any problems with regards to executing his duties in future.
"There is a maxim in democracy - majority rules. BN has 31 (seats), Pakatan has 28. The majority elected the speaker," he said.
Asked on how he plans to keep the House in order, he replied: "I won't be a dictator. I will do my duty as per standing orders."
On the manner he was elected, Ganesan (centre in photo) said the issue of an 'illegal speaker' does not arise because BN has the majority.
"Sivakumar was removed as per standing order," he added.
"The (BN) speaker was forced to call the police and state government personnel inside the hall," he said, blaming Pakatan state reps for disrupting the proceedings. "They rudely attacked BN and independent representatives as well as created a chaotic and uncontrolled situation," he said.
Earlier today, Sivakumar had ordered Zambry, his six executive council (exco) members and three independents to leave the house, but the 10 refused.
Subsequently, Sivakumar said that he would not start the proceedings until they did.
Zambry and his six excos were suspended from the assembly by the Special Privileges Committee for contempt in February, while the seats of the three independents were declared vacant after Sivakumar received their resignation letters earlier this year.
Following this, chaos ensued when Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong, who is deputy speaker, took over the proceedings and 'convened' a sitting at the BN's corner of the assembly hall.
During this 'sitting within a sitting', BN state reps 'passed' four motions, including the removal of Sivakumar and the installation of Ganesan as the new speaker.
Ganesan had 'no choice'
Elaborating on Sivakumar's forceful removal by the police this afternoon, Zambry said Ganesan repeatedly ordered Sivakumar to vacate his seat, but the latter refused. "Ganesan then ordered the sargeant-at-arms to escort Sivakumar back to the floor (but) the sargeant-at-arms was roughed up by several opposition representatives and there was a scuffle.
"Ganesan had no choice but to order the police to assist the sargeant-at-arms," he said, adding that under Standing Order 90, the speaker can issue orders not specified in the Standing Orders.
Zambry also stressed that Pakatan reps should understand that the majority rules the state assembly.
"We cannot allow the tyranny of the minority. The minority cannot rule," he said.
Zambry also expressed regret that the opposition acted rudely and impolitely and failed to respect the royal institution by making the Perak Regent wait for six hours.
"They acted using laws of the jungle and did not respect the rules," he said.
'The majority rules'
Earlier, Ganesan told reporters that he does not see any problems with regards to executing his duties in future.
"There is a maxim in democracy - majority rules. BN has 31 (seats), Pakatan has 28. The majority elected the speaker," he said.Asked on how he plans to keep the House in order, he replied: "I won't be a dictator. I will do my duty as per standing orders."
On the manner he was elected, Ganesan (centre in photo) said the issue of an 'illegal speaker' does not arise because BN has the majority.
"Sivakumar was removed as per standing order," he added.
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