Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir taking the oath of office before the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar, last month
It is time to work together to build a more prosperous nation, says the Regent of Perak
THE pandemonium that broke out at the state assembly sitting on May 7, 2009 is not something that one can easily forget.
It was the first after Barisan Nasional took power following defections that had cost Pakatan the 11 month-old state government.
For six hours, Pakatan assemblymen were up to their antics, disrupting the assembly sitting. The chaos came to an end only after a royal rebuke of the Pakatan elected representatives.
Come Friday, the state assembly will sit for the first time after the recently-concluded 13th General Election.
In the election, BN was returned to power when it secured 31 of the 59 state seats, enabling the coalition to form the state government.
All 59 assemblymen will be sworn-in during the sitting. A speaker will also be appointed and sworn-in on that day.
MIC is not threatening anyone over the Perak Speaker's post but merely asking for what belongs to the party, its president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said.
"We were denied what was promised to us before the general election," he said Monday.
Palanivel said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also suggested that the Speaker's post be allotted to the MIC.
He was commenting on the statement Sunday by Perak Backbenchers' Club chairman Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib, who criticised him for threatening Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir over the post.
Mohd Khusairi said Palanivel had acted out of line as a Barisan Nasional component president. Continue Reading...
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has rubbished claims by the state Opposition that the state Barisan Nasional government had failed to submit nomination papers for the Speaker and deputy Speaker posts before the deadline.
"They (Pakatan Rakyat) are always full of antics every time the state assembly meeting approaches.
"This time, their ploy seems to centre around a claim that we did not submit names for the Speaker post," he said during a press conference here on Sunday.
Dr Zambry called the claims ridiculous as Barisan as the state government would be fully aware of the procedures before the first state assembly meeting, which is slated to begin this June 28.
"One of the most important requirements is to submit the Speaker and deputy Speaker names.
"The party president was merely exercising his right to speak out and those who are unhappy with his statements should keep quiet. It is up to Zambry to welcome or reject Palanivel's statement," Subramaniam said
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) here has called for Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel to sit down and settle the spat between them.
Persatuan Warga Prihatin Perak chairman V. Subramaniam said nothing
would be solved by both parties issuing statements through the media.
He also said individuals or groups that were unhappy with Palanivel's statements should stay out of the matter.
"The
party president was merely exercising his right to speak out and those
who are unhappy with his statements should keep quiet.
"It is up to Zambry to welcome or reject Palanivel's statement," he said. Continue Reading..
The MIC threatened today to reject all government posts in Perak if the state government under Umno’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir refuses to award the Speaker post to one of its party leaders.
In a statement to the press, MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said his party would remain Barisan Nasional-friendly (BN) in Perak but would not accept any executive councillor post in the Umno-dominated state leadership.
The party would also reject its appointments to the posts of special officer and adviser to the mentri besar, the Cameron Highlands MP said.
“When the opposition was running Perak state government it gave an Indian the Speaker’s post,” Palanivel said, according to the statement sent via text message to The Malaysian Insider today.
The opposition won Perak in Election 2008 and gave the post of State Assembly Speaker to then Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar ― the first Indian in the state to be given such a position.
“When the BN took over the state government, MIC was given the Speaker’s post,” he added, referring to Perak MIC chief Datuk R. Ganesan.
“Now we have been deprived of the position,” Palanivel said. “The Perak mentri besar should decide to give us back the post.”
Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir with Perak BN assemblymen after he took the menteri besar’s oath of office on Tuesday at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar.
Zambry pledges to maintain peace and stability, while continuing with development programmes
IT was three minutes before noon on Tuesday. A large group of newsmen were gathered at Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir's official residence for his first press conference after being sworn in as Perak menteri besar following Barisan Nasional's victory in the 13th General Election (GE13).
He is into his second term as the state's 11th menteri besar.
(He is actually the 10th man to hold the post since the late Tan Sri Ghazali Jawi served as menteri besar twice -- once between Aug 1, 1957 to April 15, 1960 and subsequently between Sept 4, 1974 to Sept 30, 1977. Ghazali's son, Tan Sri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali, was himself a menteri besar from Dec 3, 1999 to March 16, 2008. Tajol Rosli himself is a highly respected BN and Umno veteran.
All 28 Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen were not at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar to witness Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir being sworn in as Perak Menteri Besar, Tuesday.
Perak deputy PAS Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said they (Pakatan) did not attend the oath-taking and swearing-in ceremony because they were not satisfied with the Election Commission (EC) and the results of the 13th general election.
"We did not attend because we feel the election results were not legitimate and there is suspicion of widespread fraud," he said.
Perak DAP reminded voters today of the power grab that toppled Pakatan Rakyat (PR) from the state in 2009 as it moved to reignite the anti-BN sentiment that rocked the northern state for over a year after the controversial putsch. At a press conference in Ipoh, state DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham told voters to “remain angry” at Barisan Nasional (BN) when they head to the ballot boxes this Election 2013, and punish the ruling pact for allegedly using illegal means to capture state power four years ago.
“They must tell all Malaysians and the world that they are principled people who were angry with BN for its power grab in 2009 and will remain angry with BN until BN is punished and justice meted out,” the Sitiawan assemblyman said in a statement.
"Third parties" with their "own agenda" have been blamed for the snag in a redevelopment project aimed at uplifting the status of 183 families of Kampung Meru Tin in Jelapang, near here.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said these third parties had influenced the villagers and persuaded them not to move out of their homes.
"It is an important project. It would have raised the status of the area and the quality of life for the 183 affected families. However, certain parties with their own agenda have influenced the residents not to cooperate with the state government and the developer.
"It is difficult for the state government to work for the people when third parties turn the residents against us," he said after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting yesterday.
The proposed project on the 6ha site follows an agreement last year between the state government and the residents that the land they were living on would be allocated to them, provided they paid for the redevelopment cost.
The families were required to pay RM12,300 for each plot of land, which included amenities like drainage, electricity and water.
However, due to a rise in the price of construction materials in the past two years, the redevelopment cost had gone up by RM4,000.
There was a sea of people at Stadium Perak and the grounds of Stadium Indera Mulia in Ipoh as thousands of Ipoh Starwalk 2011 participants swarmed the two spots for the city’s biggest sporting event.
Aulong assemblyman Yew Tian Hoe won today a court ruling against his former state lawmaker colleague Datuk Hee Yit Foong for attacking him with a pepper spray in the infamous May 7, 2009 Perak legislative assembly.
He also won a restraining order preventing her from future assaults against him.
The Perak State Development Corporation (PSDC) clarified today that the state government had not approved any rare earth project in Bukit Merah.
The PSDC, the state’s investment arm, explained that its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 18 with Hong Kong’s CVM Minerals Limited merely allows the firm to study the viability of mining for rare earth in Bukit Merah.
“Both parties wish to conduct feasibility or exploration studies on the viability of rare earth mining.
“The PSDC and CVM do not wish to develop any project to process rare earth in Perak,” PSDC chief executive officer Datuk Samsudin Hashim said in a statement this evening.
A local subsidiary has applied for a licence to explore a 250-hectare area
A Hong Kong company and the Perak government have agreed to explore and mine for rare earths in the state, even as controversy is raging over the Lynas refinery in Pahang.
In a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange dated April 18, CVM Minerals Limited — linked to Ho Wah Genting Berhad — announced it had entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Perak State Development Corporation (PSDC) to carry out the project in Bukit Merah, Ipoh.
The Hong Kong company, through its local subsidiary CVM Metal Recycle Sdn Bhd, has applied to the state’s land and mineral office for a licence to explore the area, covering 250 hectares, for rare earths.
Bukit Merah was also the site of Malaysia’s last rare earths plant 20 years ago, which is still undergoing a massive RM300 million clean-up.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir today declined comment on an allegation by Perak PAS Youth that a state executive councillor was under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"Later. I do not want to answer (now). They are playing the game first. Let them. I will issue a statement later. I have just got back," he said when approached after he had flagged off an Umno Youth motoring convoy headed for the by-election campaign in Merlimau, Malacca, and Kerdau, Pahang, at his official residence here.
Tambun Grediu shows his wounds to reporters at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital today
A tiger has attacked and badly injured an Orang Asli at Hutan Belum in Gerik, about 200km from here.
Tambun Grediu, 60, was squirrel-hunting with a blowpipe near his house at the Sungai Tiang Orang Asli settlement when the tiger pounced from behind him yesterday.
His screams alerted his wife, who rushed to his aid with a big stick, acting OCPD of Gerik DSP Wan Jamil Wan Chik said today.
He said that the tiger left and disappeared into the jungle after she hit the animal repeatedly on the head.
Wan Jamil said that Tambun, who sustained wounds to the head, body and legs, was taken to the Gerik Hospital and later the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.
Perak director of the Wildlife and National Parks Department Shabrina Sharif said that an investigative team had been dispatched.
If necessary for the safety of people in the area, a trap will be set to capture the animal, she said.
Following in the footsteps of George Town and Malacca, the Perak state government is now seeking to list Ipoh as a world heritage site under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
"Efforts are already under way. We are now preparing the nomination dossier and are expecting to submit it to Unesco in two months," senior state executive councillor Datuk Hamidah Osman said after launching the Ipoh Heritage Trail here yesterday.
The Federal Court today threw out an application by ousted Perak speaker V. Sivakumar to set aside its earlier ruling that the three Perak state assemblymen who turned independent could keep their seats.
Justice Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, who led a three-member bench, struck out Sivakumar's application after allowing a preliminary objection by counsel for the three assemblyman and counsel for the intervenor, the Election Commission (EC).
Zulkefli, Datuk Seri Md Raus Sharif and Datuk Abdull Hamid Embong unanimously ruled that Sivakumar had failed to set out the provision of law on which his application was based.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is among three new faces from the party chosen to be in the Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) Coordinating Committee to prepare for the 13th general election.
Besides Dr Chua who is also the Perak MCA liaison chief, the other two are Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan Chin Meng and party Youth deputy chief Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
Perak BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the three new faces would further strengthen BN in facing the next general election.
"All those in the current committee have the experience at the national level and I believe their inclusion in the committee is most apt," he said after chairing the state BN meeting, here, today.
Zambry said another MCA representative in the Perak BN Coordinating Committee was Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
The ruined remains of the suspension bridge after it collapsed, leaving three schoolchildren dead.
Muhyiddin admits Kampar bridge construction flawed
The fathers of the three pupils who drowned in the Kuala Dipang bridge tragedy on Oct 26 have filed a RM105 million suit alleging negligence on the part of 10 parties.
K.Mageswaran, K.Vasudevan and T. Nathan named as defendants the headmasters of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Mambang Diawan and SJKT Gopeng; the head of the Kinta Selatan district education office; the Perak State Education Department director; Kampar District Council president; Perak Public Works Department director and the commandant of the 1Malaysia Camp in Kuala Dipang.
Others are the donor of the suspension bridge that collapsed in the tragedy GS Synergy Sdn Bhd, CWL Enterprise which is the contractor responsible for the construction of the bridge, the Education Minister and the Government of Malaysia.
The suit was filed through the law firm of Messrs A.Sivanesan & Co. at 10.22am today the High Court registrar's office here.
Besides seeking RM35 million in general damages for each of the victim, the plaintiffs respectively also want RM19,120 in special damages, RM100,000 in exemplary damages, interest at eight per cent from the date of the children's drowning till the realisation of payments, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Among others, the plaintiffs cited lack of lighting in the area, lack of supervision by the persons responsible for the safety of the pupils attending the 1Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang organised by the Kinta Selatan district education office , non-provision of life jackets and not ensuring that the bridge was safe for use as contributing to the deaths of their children.
Their children, M. Devatharshini, 11, V. Divyashree, 12, and N. Dinadevi, 11, drowned in the Kampar River after they fell into it when the suspension bridge collapsed as they were crossing it together with scores of other pupils attending the camp.
In an immediate reaction, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the parents had the right to file the suit.
"We (government) cannot stop them from pursuing this action as they lost their loved ones in the tragedy," he told reporters here today.
However, he cautioned against the tragedy being used for political mileage and some people trying to be "champions" in the matter.
On another matter, Zambry said the state government was in the process of working out a mechanisn to channel education aid of RM200 for each child born in Perak next year and that it would most likely be in the form of a savings account.
Education Ministry to defend from lawsuits
The Education Ministry will defend itself against a suit filed by the fathers of the three pupils who drowned in the suspension bridge collapse tragedy in Kuala Dipang on Oct 26.
Deputy Education Minister, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, said during the camping programme regulations and safety steps determined by the ministry were followed.
"Just that on the bridge collapse, we leave it to the Public Works Department (PWD) to investigate and take action as the bridge was not built by the state education department," he told reporters after officiating the 55th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Peninsular Malaysia Malay Students (GPMS) here on Saturday.
Yesterday, the fathers of the three pupils filed a RM105 million suit alleging negligence on the part of 10 parties.
Among defendants named are the the Government of Malaysia, the Education Minister, the Perak State Education Department director, the head of the Kinta Selatan district education office, headmasters of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Mambang Diawan and SJKT Gopeng.
The suit was filed through the law firm of Messrs A.Sivanesan & Co. at 10.22am today at the High Court registrar's office here. Sivanesan is the state assemblyman for Sungkai from the DAP.
In the incident, the three pupils were part of a group of 298 Year Four, Five and Six from the Kinta Selatan district for a 1Malaysia Camp for four days at the Kinta Selatan District Education Office's Co-Curriculum Centre.
Dr Mohd Puad said the ministry will ensure from time to time that safety characteristcs for the camping programmes organised by the private sector were adhered to.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 — In a race against time, Perak’s Pakatan Rakyat (PR) faction will be rushing to the Ipoh magistrate’s court at 8am today to set aside another court order barring the public from going near the state secretariat building, ahead of its scheduled assembly sitting at 10am.
Ousted Perak speaker, V. Sivakumar who fears interference from the state secretary, says he is committed to holding an assembly sitting inside the state secretariat building in Ipoh tomorrow.
“I'll go ahead with it,” he told The Malaysian Insider over the phone this evening.
Sivakumar had failed in his bid to get the Ipoh High Court to issue a restraining order against Datuk Abdul Rahman Hashim earlier this afternoon.
According to PR’s calculations, the assembly must sit tomorrow or be automatically dissolved. Perak’s Constitution provides for only a six-month gap between sittings.
Sensing trouble, state police chief, Datuk Pahlawan Zulkifli Abdullah, succeeded in getting a court order under Section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code to block anyone from going within 30 metres of the fence encircling the state government headquarters at Ipoh’s Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab from 1am today until 11pm tomorrow.
He said the police had obtained a court order under Section 98 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prohibit anyone from attending the ‘sitting’ or being within a 30-metre radius from the building, beginning 1am on Sept 2 till 11pm, the following day.
“The police have been informed by the state government that there is no state assembly sitting scheduled for Sept 2,” he said in a statement here today. Zulkfili said the matter had also been verified by Perak State Assembly Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan.
“The order seems to prohibit supporters from gathering but not elected reps,” ousted DAP state executive councillor Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham told The Malaysian Insider last night when contacted.
“This should rightly be so as Article 72 of the Federal Constitution prohibits courts from interfering with the affairs of the Legislature,” he added.
But Ngeh lashed out at the police force for the public institution’s seemingly all-too speedy action in kow-towing to BN.
The Perak DAP chief expects the police to stop PR assembly members from going into the state secretariat.
And he pointed out that anyone who blocks a lawmaker from carrying out his duties can be jailed up to seven years under Section 124 of the Penal Code.
The previous Perak Assembly Speaker Sivakumar were forcefully stripped from his robe and manhandlled to vacate the Assembly Speaker seat.
New Perak Speaker R. Ganesan stands accused of holding another job besides being the Speaker of the state assembly. Another battle is raging over Datuk R. Ganesan’s validity as the Perak Speaker, with Pakatan Rakyat leaders here claiming he should be disqualified for holding two jobs — as Speaker and as a lawyer.Ganesan has, however, denied this and claims he had stopped his practice since his appointment during the chaotic May 7 state assembly sitting. The Bar Council has clarified that Perak Speaker Datuk R Ganesan had only filed a notice of cessation of practice as a lawyer on August 17, ten days after a statutory deadline for him to do so expired.A letter to the Bar Council which was received on August 17 was however dated August 6.
The actual “Notice of Cessation of Practice as an Advocate and Solicitor” was only field on August 17, as was an accompanying statutory declaration.
Last week, former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin revealed that the former Sungkai assemblyman had infringed Article 36A of the Perak Constitution by failing to relinquish his job as a lawyer within three months of his appointment.
Bar Council secretary George Varughese said in a statement today the Bar Council had acknowledged receipt of Ganesan’s letter dated August 6.
But he pointed out that the “Notice of Cessation” was dated August 17.
In the statement, Varughese said Ganesan had faxed a letter to the Bar Council on August 13, six days after the deadline expired, claiming that he had ceased being a lawyer on August 6.
But the notice of cessation remained dated August 17, ten days after the legal deadline.
The Bar Council statement appears to back Perak PR lawmakers in their argument that Ganesan had breached the state constitution and could no longer be Speaker.
----------------------
Police Entered the Perak State Legislative Assembly and Forcefully Removed Speaker Sivakumar from his Chair and Dragged out of the Hall
-----------------------------
Perak state assembly meeting 7 may 2009 many pkr supporter arrested
