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The invincible
man pg20-21
by Tim Leonard
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday
described Perak State Assembly Speaker
V. Sivakumar’s decision to suspend
newly-appointed Mentri Besar Datuk Dr
Zambry Abdul Kadir and six executive
council members as “ridiculous” and
“disrespectful” of the sultan and the state
constitution.
He urged Zambry to lodge a police
report on the matter and to seek an
audience with the Sultan of Perak to
inform him of the situation.
He said the move was the latest
ploy by Pakatan Rakyat to overthrow
the Barisan Nasional state government,
which was appointed legally by the
sultan, adding that by suspending the
seven, PR will have the majority in the
state assembly.
Zambry was sworn in as MB on Feb
6 and the exco on Feb 10, after three
PR assemblymen quit their parties to
be “BN-friendly independents” while
another who had defected from Umno
for Parti Keadilan Rakyat rejoined the
party. However, the PR government has
insisted it is still the rightful administra-
tion and has taken the matter to court.
On Wednesday, Perak state assem-
bly’s committee of rights and privileges
chaired by Sivakumar handed down the
suspensions, throwing the state deeper
into a constitutional and political crisis.
Speaking after handing over con-
tributions to Unicef for the people of
Gaza at his official residence, Abdullah
said Sivakumar had no right to sus-
pend Zambry for 18 months and the
executive councillors for 12 months.
“This clearly shows the speaker’s
action is wrong and disrespectful of the
sultan and the Perak constitution. It is a
ploy with no good intentions at all. They
Assembly must endorse decision
» Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Datuk
Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar
“The speaker should act neutral and
not partisan. If he wants to form a new
committee, he must first talk to the MB.
Furthermore, the case (lawsuit filed by PR
against BN for taking over the state gov-
ernment) is in the court. He (Sivakumar)
cannot make his own decision anymore
because Zambry is the de facto leader of
the government.
“Sivakumar made a decision through
an old committee, which does not follow
the state’s Standing Order as there was
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)
» Toppled crane causes massive bridge jam pg8
PM: Speaker
disrespectful
just want to topple the BN government
... they can’t accept defeat. The Perak
government (BN) should make a police
report as they have the right as assem-
blymen to be in the Dewan.”
When asked if the new political twist
could be resolved by going for fresh
elections as recommended by PR,
Abdullah said: “There is no need for
elections. BN should continue ruling
Perak to ensure stability.”
He said when PR won in the general
election, BN gave way to PR to form the
state government but now the situation
had changed and BN was deemed as
the legitimate state government, so it
should function as “demanded by the
people”.
He reminded politicians to work on
solving economic problems rather than
continue playing political games.
only representatives from the PR in the
committee.”
The speaker should not make a public
announcement before the decision is
endorsed by the House.
» DAP chairman, lawyer Karpal Singh:
The assembly speaker has the right to
convene a rights and privileges committee
hearing on a complaint when the assembly
is not in session. However, the committee’s
decision to bar Zambry and his executive
councillors from the assembly has to be
endorsed by the state assembly.
Award winning newspaper
for public service reporting
and opinion writing.
No. 4701 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)
February 20, 2009
TELLING IT AS IT IS
» Best of the best pg19
Flying tiger ... These teenagers enjoy a front-row view
of giant kites flown at the International Kites Festival in Pasir
Gudang, Johor, yesterday. The festival ends on Sunday.
Friday
www.sun2surf.com
Entertainment
Wong departs
to find peace
of mind
by Hemananthani Sivanandam
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: Saying that this is her
darkest hour, and that she never felt so
alone and humiliated, Elizabeth Wong
is determined to resign as Bukit Lanjan
assemblywoman and Selangor
executive council member.
She said despite tendering her
resignation from all posts, the media
and websites had continued to intrude
into her private life and privacy.
“I have been informed by several
media that they will continue to publish
even more lewd graphical, sensational
stories of my private life. I have also
been told there will be a fresh assault,
with more photographs and vid-
eos released and circulated in order to
completely degrade and bury me,”
she said, referring to the circulation of
intimate images of her.
“This is the darkest hour of my life. I
have never felt so alone, vulnerable and
humiliated. I need to rest and to search
for peace of mind, to get away from the
stormy events surrounding me,” she
said yesterday in a statement which
began with “I have departed today.”
Wong, 40, said she had informed
her party leaders of her decision and
sought their understanding of her
predicament.
In expressing her appreciation for
overwhelming support from all quarters,
in particular her voters, women and
party comrades in her hour of turmoil,
she said,” Words cannot express my
gratitude for your gentle kindness.”
Wong also pleaded to the media
as well as her supporters to allow her
some peace of mind and give her some
space. She urged the media to leave
her family and friends alone and wish
the public would concentrate on other
important issues.
BERNAMAPIX
“The nation is at a crisis facing a
serious economic recession. Unemploy-
ment is rising while corruption remains
rampant. I wish public discussions
would concentrate on these important
issues rather than analysing my private
life.”
The politician’s private life became a
hot topic when intimate photographs of
her taken in the privacy of her bedroom
were circulated on the Internet.