Zambry bypasses Speaker, calls for May 7 sitting

Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming has confirmed that BN Menteri Besar Zambry Kadir called for a sitting of the state assembly on May 7 without the knowledge and consent of the Speaker V Sivakumar.

Nga said notice of the meeting was issued by the clerk of the House, Abdullah Antong Sabri, who was suspended by Sivakumar for insubordination and replaced by Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki on Mar 2.

This latest underhanded card dealt by Zambry will surely raise questions on the legality of the sitting.

Nga also slammed the May 7 date, saying that by calling for the sitting just two days after the May 5 hearing of the case between Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin and Zambry, it only indicated the extent of Umno’s influence over the courts.

“Is the BN so confident of winning the case that they are calling for a sitting right after the High Court’s decision? I call on the BN to be accountable and explain whether or not they are the unseen hand behind the judiciary. Otherwise, the independence of the judiciary is at stake,” said Nga.

A sad day for Malaysia’s legal system

The Pakatan is expected to meet and chart their next course of action after two controversial and sharply-criticised Federal Court rulings this month.

On Feb 9, the apex court declared that it was the Election Commission that had the authority to decide on the resignations of three Perak assemblymen - Jamaluddin Radzi of Behrang, Mohd Osman Jailu of Changkat Jering and Hee Yit Foong of Jelapang - not the Speaker of the state legislative assembly, V Sivakumar.

On Feb 16, it ruled that Sivakumar had acted ultra-vires when he suspended BN Menteri Besar Zambry Kadir and six executive councillors for breach of House rules.

Said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang: “In striking out the purported suspension order of the Perak state assembly Speaker, the Federal Court was striking out an order that does not exist - as the suspension order was that of the Committee of Privileges.”

“It was not the Speaker who suspended Zambry and his six executive council members, but the Perak State Assembly Committee of Privileges on Feb 18. Zambry and his six exco members had sued the wrong party and as a result, has got a Federal Court order against the wrong party.”

Nevertheless, the Pakatan Rakyat leader still slammed the decision, saying it was a clear-cut violation of principles on which the nation’s parliamentary system was built.

“The Federal Court decision is a serious violation of the doctrine of separation of powers among the three branches of government, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, each recognizing and respecting the limits of its own powers not to trespass into the powers of the other branches of government.”

Courtesy Of Suara Keadilan