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POH: The Perak State Assembly
I sitting to approve the 2010 state
budget descended into pandemo-
nium yesterday when two rival
groups of assemblymen held their
“sittings” with separate agendas in
the same venue.
At the end of the short but noisy
sitting – it was over in about two
hours – the Barisan Nasional state
government led by Mentri Besar
Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir
approved a motion on the budget. The
Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen led by
Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin
approved three motions.
BN Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan
called to order the sitting about 10am
with a “doa”, but the Opposition
members were noticeably missing.
After observing a minute’s silence
over the suspension bridge tragedy
at Kuala Dipang in which a school-
girl drowned and two others went
missing, Zambry tabled the proposed
state budget. At this point, the 28
opposition assemblymen were still
outside the House.
Ganesan announced a one-hour
recess until 11.20am after Zambry
had tabled the budget. Shortly
after, the Pakatan Rakyat members
entered and convened their
“sitting”. The BN assemblymen ig-
nored them.
Former speaker and Tronoh
assemblyman V. Sivakumar began
the “sitting” with the “doa” and also
asked the assemblymen to observe
a moment’s silence. Some BN as-
semblymen interrupted them, say-
ing “tadi dah buat” (it’s been done),
but the retort from Sivakumar and
colleagues was: “Itu speaker haram
yang buat.” (That was done by the
illegal speaker).
A. Sivasubramanian (DAP-
Buntong) asked Ganesan to leave the
speaker’s chair, claiming he was not
qualified to occupy it as he continued
to practise law three months after
having been appointed the speaker.
Ganesan remained in his seat
throughout the PR “sitting” while
the BN members ignored the
“proceedings” and talked among
themselves.
At 11am, Nizar tabled a motion to
suspend all National Service camps
and other outdoor extra-curricular
activities in light of the Kampar
tragedy, pending the outcome of
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations (Malaysia)
2009 AWARDS
Award winning newspaper
for excellence in
investigative reporting
No. 4875 PP 2644/12/2009 (023092)
Thursday
October 29, 2009
TELLING IT AS IT IS www.sun2surf.com
» Liow: Leaders poisoning ties with Ong pg2 » Six UN staff killed in Kabul pg8 News without
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BERNAMAPIX
Ex-top official
charged
with graft
KUALA LUMPUR: A former secretary-
general of the Science, Technology
and Innovation Ministry was yesterday
charged in the Sessions Court with
receiving bribes totalling RM59,390.60.
Abdul Hanan Alang Endut, 57,
pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges
and optional charges. Sessions judge
Syafeera Mohd Said granted him bail of
RM10,000 and fixed Dec 2 for mention.
Abdul Hanan (pic), who was trans-
Sivakumar, in the speaker’s robe (left) and without it, chaired a sitting and approved three motions yesterday. ferred to the Public Services Department
in July, is accused of obtaining a blank
cheque belonging to Adam Omar as an
Two sittings
incentive to approve a “TechnoFund”
application from Global Goodway (M)
Sdn Bhd. He allegedly
used the cheque to
pay RM15,024 for
repairs to his house
in Section 17, Petal-
ing Jaya.
The charge under
the Anti-Corruption
Act carries a maxi-
in assembly
mum of 20 years jail
and a fine of not less
than five times the
value of the bribe or
RM10,000, whichever
is more.
In his optional charge, Abdul Hanan,
who chaired the fund approval com-
mittee, is accused of obtaining a blank
cheque from Adam, the owner of Global
Goodway, and is alleged to have used
investigations. This was unani- Outside the state assembly the RM15,024 for house repairs. The
mously “approved”. He then spoke premises, about 200 PR support- optional charge carries a maximum of
on the findings of the 2008 Auditor- ers gathered near the Perak DAP two years jail, or a fine or both.
General’s Report, saying that his office nearby, with some among All the other charges are worded
administration had done well the crowd performing the “solat similarly to the main and optional
(during its 10-month tenure). hajat” (prayer of need) and others charges except for the amount of
Shortly after, Sivakumar shouting various slogans. National auto bribe. Abdul Hanan is alleged to
adjourned the “sitting” and the Ipoh police chief ACP Azisman
PR assemblymen left the House at Alias said the situation was under
policy highlights have used the cheques, among
others, to pay for house repairs,
zakat for income for 2008, credit
11.45am.
However, the BN sitting had assembly.
control and there was no illegal »
Foreign firms to be given 100% equity
card, house assessment and water
in firms which produce luxury vehicles with
resumed at 11.20am, and after more He said more than 200 policemen bill and service charges, quit rent
an engine capacity of more than 1,800cc
noisy exchanges, Zambry tabled a had been deployed around the state and to put it into his wife Norihan
and costing more than RM150,000.
Ahmad’s bank account.
motion to adjourn the BN sitting assembly building and that police
sine die, and it was passed. instructions were adhered to.
»Open Approved Permits for used
All the offences were allegedly
vehicles scrapped by Dec 31, 2015.
committed at No. 25, Jalan 17/21,
Earlier, before the sitting started, The PR state government lost its
there was drama when Sivakumar majority in the House when three
»Franchise APs to end by Dec 31,
Section 17, Petaling Jaya between
2020.
Dec 1 and 15 last year.
claimed that police grabbed his opposition assemblymen became
songkok. He was wearing the BN-friendly independents early
»import duties on all completely-built-
Counsel Badrul Munir Bukhari
up and completely-knocked-down cars
speaker’s ceremonial robe but was this year. This sparked a prolonged told the court that Datuk Muham-
to be maintained.
prevented from going in with it. He legal battle in the courts that has yet mad Shafee Abdullah will lead
later entered without his robe. to end. – Agencies »Full story in Page 13 Abdul Hanan’s defence team.