tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43483236903633322202024-03-19T19:40:27.787+10:00The Politics BlogWe shall overcome! - President Lyndon B Johnsonvchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.comBlogger475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-61635680688002104112009-03-09T13:49:00.001+10:002009-03-09T13:51:13.651+10:00The Arrogance of Judicial Comissioner Ridwan IbrahimI must say I was taken aback by the astonishing ruling of Ridwan Ibrahim, a High Court judicial commissioner.<p><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/169/c41dff4e4a9a94a97e9589bfd643df69.gif" alt="perak state assembly and v sivakumar" title="perak state assembly and v sivakumar" align="left" width="210" height="142" />He ruled that the lawyers “engaged by (Perak assembly speaker V) Sivakumar (<em>left</em>) had no locus standi to represent him in an application by Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is seeking a declaration that Sivakumar’s decision to suspend him and his executive council was unconstitutional and unlawful”.<br /><br />I am appalled at the arrogance of the judge. I am quite sure he is not an expert in constitutional law and even if he were, in a case of such great public importance to the nation, it is wise to listen to the views of the other side. Especially in this case, when eminent counsel Tommy Thomas was available to assist him.<br /><br />The judge could have invited him to submit as an amicus curiae - in Latin it means ‘friend of the court’ and when the phrase is used in a court of law it means ‘one who advises the court in a case’. I have done that many times even when I was in the Court of Appeal.<br /><br />Judges of far greater eminence than this judicial commissioner have often asked lawyers of great experience who are in the court for their valued views. Yet this judge thought he knew everything that he did not require any assistance from one of the top lawyers in the country.<br /><br />Dick Hamilton in his book ‘Foul Bills and Dagger Money’ wrote:<br /><br />“It is always easy to criticise judges, and some of them deserve it from time to time; but it is even easier to underestimate the difficulty of their task, and to take their successes for granted. No member of the Bar pretends to understand every branch of the law. ... But a High Court judge has to deal with any sort of case which comes before him.”<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/100/9cd1ad323a7fbbb57f875356be44cb37.jpg" alt="malaysian law conference 301007 tommy thomas 2" title="malaysian law conference 301007 tommy thomas 2" align="right" width="142" height="204" />In order for the judge to tackle all sorts of cases which come before him, the wise and able judge is always humble enough to ask any of the lawyers in court who is an expert in his field for assistance.</p><p>Here we have Thomas (<em>right</em>), who is one of the top lawyers in the country only too willing to assist the judge, yet this probationary judge, who thinks he knew more about law than some of the most eminent judges who have sat on the bench, refused to hear him out.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>Here’s how to judge the judge</strong></span><br /><br />You cannot judge a judge unless you know the basic law yourself. But you do not have to worry because I shall now provide you with the law applicable so that you are in a position to judge the judge.<br /><br />You may be surprised at your own ability after you have read this. You might think that even a layman, after reading the applicable law, knows what is the right decision to make. And when a judge does not know the correct answer, it makes you wonder how such a thing could have happened.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I shall start with section 24 of the Government Proceedings Act 1956. I have highlighted the important words for easier reading. Sub-sections (1) reads: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“(1) Notwithstanding any written law -</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(a) in civil proceedings by or against the Federal Government...</span></p><p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(b) in civil proceedings by or against the Government of a State, a law officer ... authorised by the Legal Adviser of such State ... may appear as advocate on behalf of such Government...”.<br /><br />As you can see, this sub-section is not relevant as it only applies to civil suits brought by or against the state government, not a public officer.<br /><br />And sub-section (2), which is relevant on the subject of discussion, reads:<br /><br />“(2) Notwithstanding any written law in civil proceedings to which a public officer is a party -<br /> <br />(a) by virtue of his office; or</p><p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(b) in his personal capacity, if the Attorney-General certifies in writing that it is in the public interest that such officer should be represented by a legal officer; a legal officer may appear as advocate on behalf of such officer...”.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/169/2c105c08f7ca8bef1bb08f12319f6f50.jpg" alt="perak state govt crisis 030309 pakatan lawyers" title="perak state govt crisis 030309 pakatan lawyers" align="left" width="300" height="183" />This sub-section only applies to civil suits brought by or against a public officer. In such a case, a public officer may (the word is “may” not “must”) be represented by a legal officer which could include the legal adviser of the state.</p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Therefore, there is nothing in section 24 (2) of the Government Proceedings Act to suggest that a public officer if he sues or if he is sued must be represented by a legal officer such as the state legal officer.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">In any case, section 24 (2) of the Government Proceedings Act only applies to civil proceedings to which a public officer is a party. Therefore, the question is, does the speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a state hold office as a member of the public service? If he does, then he is a public officer.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Article 132, Clause (3) of the Federal Constitution states that: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">“(3) The public service shall not be taken to comprise - </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(b) the office of President, Speaker, Deputy President, Deputy Speaker or member of either House of Parliament or of the Legislative Assembly of a State.”</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">So now you know that the speaker and the members of the Legislative Assembly of a state are not part of the public service as they do not hold office as public officers. Therefore, section 24 (2) of the Government Proceedings Act does not apply to them.</span><br /><br />Now we all know, except the judge because he thought he knew better, that eminent lawyer Tommy Thomas could not be prevented to appear for the speaker Sivakumar. If only he would hear Thomas, instead of barring him from speaking, he would not have made such a grave error.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>Courts can’t question validity of assembly’s decisions</strong></span><br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/166/c2b54b3e681144feb6316d9e6ee38e74.gif" alt="dr zambry abdul kadir new perak cm 110209 03" title="dr zambry abdul kadir new perak cm 110209 03" align="right" width="219" height="146" />According to newspaper reports, the case is an application by MB Zambry to the court to declare the decision of speaker Sivakumar in the legislative assembly to suspend him and his six exco members unconstitutional and unlawful.<br /><br />The question is, can the courts decide on the validity of the proceedings in the Legislative Assembly?<br /><br />The answer is staring at us right here in the Federal Constitution. Article 72, Clauses (1) to (3) states: <br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“(1) The validity of any proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of any State shall no the questioned in any court.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(2) No person shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him when taking part in proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of any State or of any committee thereof. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(3) No person shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything published by or under the authority of the Legislative Assembly of any state.”</span><br /><br />So now you know from the Federal Constitution itself that the validity of the suspension of Zambry and his six exco members by the speaker in the state assembly cannot be questioned in any court.<br /><br />From what we have read from the newspapers, it seems that there is an injunction against the speaker.<br /><br />You may wonder how an injunction can be obtained against the speaker when our written constitution says that “no person shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him when taking part in proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of the State”.<br /><br /><br /><hr style="font-style: italic;" size="2" width="100%"><span style="font-style: italic;">NH CHAN, who is former Court of Appeal judge, lives in Ipoh. The above article is an abridged version of a much longer piece.</span>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-33221740599336895732009-02-13T13:29:00.002+10:002009-02-13T13:30:09.226+10:00Kit Siang calls for those who lodge police reports against Karpal to be prosecuted - malaysiakiniFrom Kit Siang's blog: <br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;">If Hamid and Musa are not prepared to take immediate action against the 89 (including Dr. Mah) by opening police investigation papers against them, is the Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail who is currently overseas, prepared to restore public confidence in the impartiality and professionalism of the law enforcement agencies by instituting criminal prosecutions against the 89 troublemakers the first thing he returns to his duties?</p><p><br /></p><p>Malaysiakini's report when out.<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-71507123697613285722009-02-07T13:48:00.002+10:002009-02-07T13:50:36.243+10:00Live coverage of Perak Constitutional Crisis by AnilExcellent coverage of the continuing Perak constitutional crisis by Anil here:<br /><h3><a href="http://anilnetto.com/democracy/live-perak-in-crisis/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link: LIVE: Speaker moves to convene urgent Assembly sitting">LIVE: Speaker moves to convene urgent Assembly sitting</a></h3>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-91148987184064568632009-02-06T11:33:00.001+10:002009-02-06T11:34:06.595+10:00Illegal swearing in of new Perak MB taking place - malaysiakiniThe Star reports:<br /><br /><br /><p>PETALING JAYA: Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir will be the new Perak Mentri Besar, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.</p> <div class="story_image right" style="width: 164px;"> <img src="http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/2/6/nation/n_pg01zambry.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="172" /> <span class="caption"><b>New man at the helm:</b> Pangkor assemblyman Datuk Dr. Zambry Abd kadir will be sworn in Friday.</span> </div> <p>Abdullah, who is Barisan Nasional chairman, announced this after returning from his official visit to Istana Kinta in Ipoh yesterday evening, where he had an audience with the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.</p> <p>“Sultan Azlan Shah has consented to Zambry being appointed the Mentri Besar. He will be sworn in at 3.30pm tomorrow (today) at the Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar,” he said.</p> <p>Abdullah added that the new state executive council would be sworn in at 10am the day after.</p> <p>Zambry, meanwhile, thanked the Sultan, the Prime Minister and his deputy for trusting him to carry out the responsibility.</p><p><br /></p><p>Malaysiakini's report when out<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-31006761191779478352009-02-06T11:31:00.001+10:002009-02-06T11:33:06.430+10:0096% think BN will suffer in next electionsSo says the NTV7 poll.<br /><br />Mainstream media some more.<br /><br />BN is dead.vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-68835474327537436382009-02-05T12:43:00.000+10:002009-02-05T12:44:12.217+10:00Najib goes into Istana Kinta to try to form Perak government - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini reports: <br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><div style="margin:0;padding:0;left:0;top:0;position:absolute;visibility:hidden">MCPX<img style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" align="left" height="1" width="1" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" /></div><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><div classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></div> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Perak Barisan Nasional chief Najib Abdul Razak is presently having an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah at the Istana Kinta in Ipoh.<br /><br />Najib is expected to inform the sultan of BN's strength in numbers in the state assembly that will allow the coalition to take over the control of the state from Pakatan Rakyat.<br /><br />Also present at the meeting with the deputy prime minister is Perak Umno deputy chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Najib and Ahmad Zahid arrived at the palace at 9.50am.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">After the meeting with the sultan, Najib, who is also the Perak Umno chief, will be chairing a state Umno meeting. Top on the agenda would the choice of menteri besar to lead the BN government.<br /><br />He had earlier cancelled a function in Putrajaya this morning to attend the meeting with the sultan.</p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>Pakatan goes to court </strong></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;">Meanwhile, Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar has applied to the High Court to declare that undated resignations letters by former Pakatan representatives as valid.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">The three - PKR's Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Osman Jailu, and DAP's Hee Yit Foong - have claimed that their quit letters signed soon after being elected as assemblypersons last March were done under duress. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">The Election Commission has overruled the Perak speaker on the matter. </p><p style="font-style: italic;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><div classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></div> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Yesterday Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin also met the sultan for almost two hours to request for dissolution of the state assembly so that a snap state election could be held.<br /><br />Mohd Nizar's meeting coincided with the defection of four Pakatan representatives to BN yesterday, severely altering the number of seats from Pakatan to BN.<br /><br />The fate of the state government now hinges on the sultan. Political observers are waiting to see if he would allow BN to form the state government or will dissolve the state assembly.<br /><br />Among the other developments taking place in Perak today:</p><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>Pakatan Rakyat will be holding its council meeting in Ipoh later this afternoon. Pakatan leader Anwar Ibrahim and all other top guns from the alliance are expected to be at the meeting to show support to Mohd Nizar and the state government.</li></ul><br /><ul style="font-style: italic;"><li>A mammoth gathering is also expected to convene at the menteri besar's residence to support the Pakatan government. A crowd of about 100,000 is expected.</li></ul><br /><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">A ceramah to take place at Mohd Nizar's residence starting 7pm with Anwar expected to address the crowd - malaysiakini.com</span><br /></li></ul>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-57181356390626761962009-02-04T11:48:00.001+10:002009-02-04T11:49:43.679+10:00Majority want snap elections to be held in PerakMalaysiakini reports:<br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;"> An overwhelming majority of </span><em style="font-style: italic;"><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" width="1" height="1" /></div>Malaysiakini</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> readers want a snap poll to resolve the political impasse in Perak.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With two-way defections affecting both Pakatan Rakyat and the Barisan Nasional opposition in the state, 94% of those participating in </span><em style="font-style: italic;">Malaysiakini</em><span style="font-style: italic;">'s one-day online survey (</span><em style="font-style: italic;">see chart below</em><span style="font-style: italic;">) want either by-elections in the purportedly vacant seats held by two defectors or a state-wide election.</span><br /><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/cbd4b56b1ff265971a404de0aa2ad05c.gif" alt="jamaluddin mat radzi and osman jailu perak pkr" title="jamaluddin mat radzi and osman jailu perak pkr" align="left" width="219" height="146" /><span style="font-style: italic;">Just over half of the 2,308 respondents (51%) have opted for by-elections in the two state seats - Behrang and Changkat Jering - held by PKR defectors, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Osman Jailu respectively. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another 41% want the dissolution of the Perak assembly so that a state election can be called.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Only 4.2% said that BN should be allowed to form the state government if they have managed to gather sufficient defections. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="subtitle">MB has option to dissolve assembly</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With Pakatan's 32 seats against BN's 27, the opposition needs at least three defections before it can go to the Perak sultan to claim the right to form government.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Election Commission today has </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/97472" target="_blank"><strong>rejected</strong></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> by-elections for the two state seats. It ruled that both Jamaluddin and Osman are still state assemblypersons.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">EC chief Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said that their denial letters received yesterday indicated their wish not to quit their seats, despite resignation letters brandished by PKR which were signed earlier by the duo.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With only one-seat majority, Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin may exercise his option of calling a snap election to resolve the political instability.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/5775f61735ef629e320a9705f51fcaee.gif" alt="malaysiakini survey perak political situation poll 030209" title="malaysiakini survey perak political situation poll 030209" width="435" height="387" /><span style="font-style: italic;"> - malaysiakini.com</span><br /><br />I am more interested in what the Merdeka Review finds later on.vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-777868975149343202009-02-04T10:02:00.001+10:002009-02-04T10:03:36.033+10:00Perak resignation crisis: Pakatan on the verge of calling snap elections - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report: <br /><br /><p style="font-style: italic;">Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has conceded that Pakatan Rakyat is considering the possibility of dissolving the state assembly to pave the way for a snap polls.<br /></p><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; font-style: italic;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" width="1" height="1" /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"We are in process of thinking about it. (You'll know) when the time comes," he said in response to a question.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/129/322f975b252f99bbf55f0e92b42ea09c.jpg" alt="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 11" title="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 11" align="left" width="291" height="221" /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mohd Nizar was speaking to reporters late last night after chairing a meeting at his official residence in Ipoh attended by most of the Pakatan state reps and top state leaders from PAS, DAP and PKR. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Yesterday, two Pakatan state reps Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang) and Osman Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) '</span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/97472" target="_blank"><strong>defected</strong></a><span style="font-style: italic;">', leaving the coalition with just 30 seats in the 59 seat state assembly. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Barisan Nasional merely needs the duo and another rep to join the coalition in order to wrest back the state from Pakatan and bring an end to their 10-month reign. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Though the state government may call for a snap polls to prevent Barisan from enticing cross overs, Pakatan's next step to resolve the fragile situation is to seek legal redress against the Election Commission’s decision not to recognise the resignations of Jamaluddin and Osman. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="subtitle">'Hee's still with us'<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Perak senior exco member Ngeh Khoo Ham, who was also at the press conference, said Pakatan intends to compel the EC into calling by-elections for the two seats 'vacated' by the duo. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"We will file for a judicial review and apply for leave to obtain a mandamus from the court to compel the EC to carry out its public duty," said the state DAP chair. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/125/49c6cb90af11f5280445af676197513f.jpg" alt="hee yit foong" title="hee yit foong" align="left" width="64" height="64" /><span style="font-style: italic;">On Jelapang state rep Hee Yit Foong's subtle hints that she was unhappy with the Pakatan leadership, in particular DAP, Mohd Nizar said disagreements were normal in an alliance. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"That is very normal in Pakatan Rakyat. We are very happy with that actually. I have disagreed with my party and its leadership (before). It is part and parcel of the process," he said. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On Hee's whereabouts, since she did not attend the meeting, Mohd Nizar jokingly replied in Cantonese: "</span><em style="font-style: italic;">Ngor mm chee</em><span style="font-style: italic;"> (I don't know)". </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"We have contacted her. She has some matters to attend to. She is with us (as a team)," he said, adding that Hee was busy with family matters. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rumours are rife that Hee would quit DAP and become an independent state rep. The rumours intensified after she </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/97522" target="_blank"><strong>skipped</strong></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> an important state function yesterday morning.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Attempts to contact Hee and her husband today had been futile. Media representatives had even staked out at her house and the DAP Jelapang service centre to no avail.</span><p style="font-style: italic;" class="subtitle">Speaker: I've absolute authority</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Meanwhile, Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar told the same press conference that he had received the resignation letters from Jamaluddin and Osman in two separate envelopes at his house. </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He said that the anonymous messenger came to his house in a car on Feb 1 and passed him the envelopes and said: "These are very important documents for you".</span><br /><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/3a37e9075df351caddd143f6e71e6924.jpg" alt="V Sivakumar" title="V Sivakumar" align="left" width="64" height="64" /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sivakumar stressed that he had the absolute authority to declare the Behrang and Changkat Jering seats vacant after being satisfied with the letters. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He added that the duo would not be allowed to enter the House as elected reps when the state assembly reconvenes in April. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"They can sit at the public gallery," Mohd Nizar added - malaysiakini.com</span><br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-62793472674452508442009-02-03T15:07:00.003+10:002009-02-03T15:09:35.133+10:00EC defies Perak Sultan and refuses to call by election - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report: <br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><div style="margin:0;padding:0;left:0;top:0;position:absolute;visibility:hidden">MCPX<img style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" align="left" height="1" width="1" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" /></div><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Election Commission announced that by-elections were not necessary for the state seats of Changkat Jering and Behrang as there were doubts on the resignation letters submitted by the representatives.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">EC said that it received the resignations letter of the duo from the Perak speaker V Sivakumar on Feb 2. </p><p style="font-style: italic;">On the same day, the commission also received letters from the two state representatives stating thatthey have not resigned.</p><span style="font-style: italic;">"As such, EC decided that it will not be able to call for by-elections. The two seats are still held by the two state representatives," said EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusuf - malaysiakini.com</span><br /><br />From the Malaysian Insider:<br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;">Pas officials told The Malaysian Insider that Nizar left the meeting <span style="font-weight: bold;">with the impression that based on the resignation letters calling by-elections would be the most palatable outcome to this political stalemate.</span></p><br /><p style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now who's BIADAP? </span><br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-52490160895783231602009-02-03T14:34:00.002+10:002009-02-03T14:37:00.352+10:00Perak Pakatan Government's fate hangs by a thread called the EC - malaysiakiniMalaysian Insider's report:<br /><br /><p>IPOH, Feb 3 — While the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government pins its hopes on the Election Commission to declare by-elections in two state constituencies, the two renegade PKR assemblymen at the heart of the state's high-stakes political drama are expected to make legal challenges to ensure they remain as legislators.</p> <p>If the EC decides to hold by-elections, the PR government will not have to deal with potential defectors in its ranks even as it tries to fight off challenges from the opposition Barisan Nasional.</p> <p>A day after state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar announced the resignation of Jamaluddin Radzi and Osman Jailu amid speculation that they were both ready to join Umno, the duo emerged from hiding through their representatives to deny that they have tendered their resignation, pledging their loyalty to PKR.</p> <p>At issue now is whether the EC will accept Sivakumar's decision.</p> <p>The speaker claimed to have received the purported resignation letters on Sunday evening.</p> <p>The PKR duo are likely to challenge the validity of the letters, said to have been signed just after the general election last year.</p> <p>Last night, at a hastily-called press conference, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin made a last-minute attempt to pressure the EC to accept the vacancy of the two state seats by saying he has the support of the palace for by-elections to be called.</p> <p>For almost a day yesterday, Nizar had been evading the press, in a sign that the Pakatan Rakyat-led government was unsure of the next move after the Behrang and Changkat Jering reps challenged the speaker's announcement.</p> <p>The closest the PR got to being on the offensive yesterday was when a PKR division leader called a press conference in the morning just to accuse Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the man behind the disappearance of Jamaluddin and Osman.</p> <p>Interestingly, the revelation, through yet another statutory declaration, was not sanctioned by the party as PKR officials at the beginning of the press conference repeatedly said that Ipoh Barat division chief Fauzi Muda was making the statement as an individual.</p> <p>The declaration however was uploaded to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's blog.</p> <p>"We are not losing, we expect victory through the Election Commission's announcement," said Pas lawmaker Husin Din on the government's silence since the speaker's declaration.</p> <p>The Selinsing assemblyman believes that the state's ruling coalition had scored a goal when the PKR duo did not turn up at their own press conferences yesterday.</p> <p>Interestingly, opposition leader Anwar, who played a crucial role in preventing three-cornered fights in the state in the general election last year, has been relatively silent on the issue.</p> <p>The Permatang Pauh MP, in a brief blog posting yesterday, accused Najib of being involved in the planned defections.</p> <p>And for Umno, which lost an assemblyman on the eve of the Lunar New Year with the defection of Bota rep Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim to PKR, the consensus among its leaders was that the fiasco has nothing to do with the Malay nationalist party.</p> <p>Just last week the state opposition was on the verge of losing more representatives with the menteri besar declaring that the government was expecting three more Umno assemblymen to cross over.</p> <p>But the latest political drama has provided Umno with a temporary morale boost and even the prospect of by-elections did not seem to worry the party leaders, as it successfully distanced itself from the turmoil.</p> <p>"It was not triggered by us in the first place. When one of us crossed over, they said it was morally right, but when we talked about their men crossing over, they said it is immoral," Umno's Datuk Zambry Kadir told <em>The Malaysian Insider.</em></p><p><br /><em></em></p><p><em>Malaysiakini's report when out.<br /></em></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-52787455986949101142009-02-03T13:37:00.000+10:002009-02-03T13:39:05.866+10:00Confusion and turmoil as Perak resignation crisis deepens - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report: <br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;">As Barisan Nasional and PKR brace themselves for possible by-elections in Perak, Malaysiakini learns there is a likelihood that the matter could be first referred to the courts instead of the ballot boxes.<br /></p><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; font-style: italic;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" height="1" width="1" /></div><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/139/a8968fa51a68ea48b7dbf772a5b71061.jpg" alt="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" title="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" align="right" height="155" width="250" /><span style="font-style: italic;">According to lawyers, there are legal grounds to challenge the resignation letters submitted by the two PKR assemblypersons Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (Behrang) and Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Under commercial law, lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican said any pre-signed letter of resignation is questionable as it is illegal and morally wrong.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"A resignation letter cannot be made under duress. It can be considered as not genuine as the person may not have a true intention of resigning now. Furthermore, if a politician wishes to switch parties there is nothing hindering him from doing so.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"There is a 1991 case of </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ipsofactoj.com/archive/1991/Part07/arc1991%2807%29-011.htm" target="_blank"><strong>Nordin Salleh vs Kelantan State Legislative Assembly</strong></a><span style="font-style: italic;"> where the then Lord President Eusoff Chin decided that an assemblyperson does not lose his or her seat if they switch party," he added.</span><p style="font-style: italic;"><span class="subtitle">No anti-hopping law poses a problem </span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu also agreed with Hasnal that the resignation letters submitted could also be challenged as the person might have a change of mind and decide to retract.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He said this problem exists because there is no anti-hopping law in the country.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The alleged resignation letter cannot be absolute if the affected person claims that he had not handed it. It can then be argued that the resignation letters which they signed earlier were not absolute," he told </span><em style="font-style: italic;">Malaysiakini</em><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Asked to comment on Perak State Assembly speaker V Sivakumar handing the two resignation letters to the Election Commission, Baljit said the affected persons could file an application to quash the resignation letters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hasnal also agreed that the duo could file applications at the High Court to seek a declaration that they have not resigned.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Another lawyer, David Matthews said if the assemblypersons could prove that they were coerced into signing the letters, it would make the letters null and void.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He stressed that this was an important issue as it involved the credibility of elected representatives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The fact is that a resignation letter must be signed on their own free will. If there is evidence of coercion, it would be open for challenge.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The person must prove in a court of law how the coercion took place," he added - malaysiakini.com</span><br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-91682105357659957682009-02-03T12:50:00.004+10:002009-02-03T12:51:24.337+10:00Perak resignation crisis spreads to Negri Sembilan, NS BN government vulnerable? - malaysiakiniMalaysian Insider's report:<br /><br /><h2 class="contentheading"><a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/17437-perak-political-drama-spreading-to-ns" class="contentpagetitle"> </a> </h2> <div class="article-content"> <p>SEREMBAN, Feb 2 – The Barisan Nasional (BN) state government in Negri Sembilan is finding itself on the defensive amid swirling rumours of defections to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).</p> <p>For the second time in a week, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has had to deny speculation that a number of BN state legislators were planning to defect to PR.</p> <p>The BN coalition holds a slim majority in the state assembly. Three defections to the PR alliance would see BN lose power.</p> <p>Speculation is rife in Seremban that three Umno representatives and one MCA lawmaker are considering crossing over to PR.</p> <p>The rumours come even as a separate political drama is being played out in Ipoh, where BN and PR appear to be in an intriguing battle to lure each other’s assemblymen as the PR state government totters on the brink of collapse.</p> <p>Bernama news agency reported Mohamad as telling reporters in Seremban today that the rumours were merely a ploy by PR.</p> <p>“We should not fall prey into the opposition trap. After seeking clarification from the assemblymen, we know that the opposition is full of hot air,” he told reporters after meeting BN elected representatives and Negri Sembilan BN Backbenchers Club here.</p> <p>Palong assemblyman Datuk Aziz Shamsudin also quashed rumours that he would be joining the opposition, Bernama reported.</p> <p>“I am not jumping party. No opposition representatives have approached me but I welcome them if they want to see me,” he said.</p> <p>State executive councillor and Serting assemblyman Shamsulkahar Mohd Deli denied a blog posting that he was contemplating leaving BN.</p> <p>“I am not affected by this slander. Let me clear my name, this is utterly a slander by irresponsible people,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.</p> <p>State BN Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who is also Sungai Lui assemblyman, said the people should not be hoodwinked by the opposition strategy to weaken the state government<br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p>Malaysiakini's report when out.<br /></p></div>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-82810987743126175412009-02-03T12:18:00.000+10:002009-02-03T12:19:27.621+10:00Kedah PKR assemblymen: I was threatened with KIDNAP by BN - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;">Amid the political turmoil in Perak, a PKR elected representative in Kedah has filed a police report claiming among others that there was an attempt to kidnap him.<br /></p><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; font-style: italic;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" height="1" width="1" /></div><br /><img style="font-style: italic;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/0f7e7a8ebf5ccc64ea3daa2c71396954.jpg" alt="Arumugam Vengatarakoo" title="Arumugam Vengatarakoo" align="right" height="64" width="64" /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bukit Selambau assemblyperson V Arumugam also claimed that he and his officers have received numerous threats.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"All of this is being done in order to force me to leave PKR and move to Barisan Nasional," alleged the state exco in a statement today.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Arumugam had filed the police report at the Sungai Petani district police headquarters this afternoon.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Apart from the alleged 'kidnap' attempt last November, the assemblyperson claimed that he had also received threats via the telephone. </span><p><span style="font-style: italic;" class="subtitle">'Windscreen smashed' </span> <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"On Dec 12, there was an incident where the windscreen of the official exco car (Proton Perdana) was smashed and there was a note containing a threat which was tied to a brick.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"A few days ago, several individuals had approached me with lucrative offers in order to coax me into leaving PKR," he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">According to Arumugam, the latest incident involving two PKR assemblypersons in Perak had motivated him to make this matter public.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"I am worried that if I do not come forward, then the safety of my family would continue to be threatened.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"I also call on the police to investigate all my police reports since March 2008 and take the necessary action," he added.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kedah - which was an Umno stronghold fell - into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat following the March 8 general election - malaysiakini.com </span><br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-81666896918579321702009-02-03T11:05:00.003+10:002009-02-03T11:07:05.199+10:00PKR Leader's SD: $50 MILLION OFFERED TO BUY PERAK ASSEMBLYMEN!! - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <p style="font-style: italic;">PKR Ipoh Barat division head Fauzi Muda has leveled the damning claim that Umno deputy president Najib Abdul Razak had tried last year to induce him to secure the crossover of two Pakatan Rakyat representatives in Perak.</p><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; font-style: italic;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" height="1" width="1" /></div><p style="font-style: italic;">Fauzi said he had been offered a total of RM50 million for his services and to pay off those he managed to convince, but that he had remained non-committal.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/9da6d90b24b9ea6e251a5f0d4866ea96.jpg" alt="perak pkr pc fauzi muda pc statutory declaration 010209 02" title="perak pkr pc fauzi muda pc statutory declaration 010209 02" align="right" height="232" width="280" />While conceding that he has no concrete evidence to back his allegation, he nonetheless dared Najib<em> </em>- also the deputy premier and deputy head of ruling coalition Barisan Nasional - to deny the claim.<br /><br />Reading from a <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/pages/general/fauzi-muda-statutory-declaration.html" target="_blank"><strong>three-page statutory declaration</strong></a> at a press conference in Ipoh this morning, Fauzi (<em>right</em>) said a friend Suleiman Mansor, an ordinary member of Umno, had invited him to Kuala Lumpur on a business matter on March 11, 2008.<br /><br />This was three days after the momentous general election that dumped BN out of the Perak government, and brought a Pakatan coalition into power, albeit with a slim majority of five seats.<br /><br />However, Suleiman took Fauzi to meet three men, “including former deputy defence minister Zainal Abidin Zin at the Jalan Duta toll plaza”.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/158/2ec016c9c76e5b581ccf0390713338e7.jpg" alt="najib on kuala terengganu by election 060109 02" title="najib on kuala terengganu by election 060109 02" align="right" height="157" width="260" />“Thereafter, I was taken to Najib (Abdul) Razak’s residence in Putrajaya, where he tried to persuade me to lobby for the crossover of two PR assemblymen to BN,” said Fauzi.<br /><br />“I was promised RM50 million in return for my services and told that I would be allowed to allocate (part of) the money (to the assemblypersons) as I wished.”<br /><br />Fauzi, however, did not name any representatives in the document or during the press conference. He would not distribute copies of the statutory declaration either.<br /><br />“Najib assured me that if I succeeded, the appointment of the menteri besar for Perak would be delayed. However, I left his residence without making any promises as I feared for my safety.”<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/e081c31627518a16cbc8aaa1b48ff899.jpg" alt="perak pkr pc fauzi muda pc statutory declaration 010209 04" title="perak pkr pc fauzi muda pc statutory declaration 010209 04" align="left" height="254" width="328" />He further claimed that Suleiman approached him once more last year, after PKR assemblypersons Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (Behrang) and Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) were charged with corrupt practice.<br /><br />“I was told that if I succeeded in lobbying for their crossover, the charges would be dropped. But this time, the reward for their defection dropped to RM5 million per person. Again, I refused the offer.”<br /><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"><strong><br />‘Willing to meet Najib’</strong></span><br /><br />Fauzi told the media that he intends to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today, along with his statutory declaration.<br /><br />Commenting on the now-anticipated crossover by Jamaluddin and Osman, he expressed his suspicion that Umno has succeeded in pulling them out of Pakatan.<br /><br />When pressed as to why he had not lodged a report earlier, he said that rumours of BN attempting to manoeuvre the defections of Pakatan elected representatives had been rife since the general election.<br /><br />“I did not believe this would happen until the <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97357" target="_blank"><strong>disappearance</strong></a> of Jamaluddin and Osman (since last week),” he said.<br /> <br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/159/0aad76e23f5ecf5594aa6bc1afe47d05.jpg" alt="anwar kuala terenganu by election 070109 02" title="anwar kuala terenganu by election 070109 02" align="right" height="173" width="285" />He noted, though, that he had previously brought up the matter with Pakatan leaders including <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97370" target="_blank"><strong>Anwar Ibrahim</strong></a>.<br /><br />Fauzi, in challenging Najib to refute the allegations, said he is prepared to meet face-to-face with the deputy premier over this.<br /><br />“As to why (BN) had chosen me to lobby for the defections, perhaps they thought I had close relations with them and that I am easily hooked… but they are wrong. I have my principles,” he said.<br /><br />“I also hope that what I have done today will benefit the state as well as the nation. They will now know the evil political practices that our PM-in-waiting is capable of.”<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/cbd4b56b1ff265971a404de0aa2ad05c.gif" alt="jamaluddin mat radzi and osman jailu perak pkr" title="jamaluddin mat radzi and osman jailu perak pkr" align="left" height="155" width="234" />During the press conference, held at the PKR Perak headquarters, state party head Osman Abdul Rahman refused to comment on the brouhaha surrounding Jamaluddin (<em>left in photo</em> and Osman (<em>right in photo</em>) or the legality of their resignation letters.<br /><br />He would only say that both of them are still incommunicado.<br /><br />This morning, Perak assembly speaker V Sivakumar <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97381" target="_blank"><strong>officially informed</strong></a> the state election commission chief of the vacancy of the two state seats.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Sivakumar had announced on Sunday that the seats became vacant after Jamaluddin and Osman tendered their resignation with immediate effect.<br /><br />Both have since challenged the resignation letter, insisting that they has <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97429" target="_blank"><strong>not stepped down</strong></a> and that they remain state assemblypersons.</p><p style="font-style: italic;"><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" height="189" width="200" />At present, Pakatan has 32 seats in Perak with DAP (18), PKR (8) and PAS (6), while BN has 27 with Umno (26) and MCA (1).</p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Before the defection of Nasarudin Hashim, the former Umno state assemblyperson of Bota, BN needed two additional seats to claim the right to rule Perak.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">However, after Nasarudin's defection last week, the state opposition must get three defectors. With Jamaluddin and Osman apparently in the bag, it will now need just one more - malaysiakini.com</span><br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-65005493881559967742009-02-03T10:45:00.002+10:002009-02-03T10:56:52.883+10:00Anwar turns table on Najib's attempted Perak coup - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br />While Pakatan Rakyat may have averted an attempted coup by Barisan Nasional in Perak over the weekend, the danger is not over for the 10-month-old state government.<br /><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" height="1" width="1" /></div><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="right" height="189" width="200" />Pakatan has recently strengthened its majority from three to five, thanks to last week's defection of Nasarudin Hashim (Bota) from Umno.<br /><br />With Pakatan's 32 against BN's 27, the BN opposition needs at least three defections, and so far they got two.<br /><br />With one seat short, it would not be able to convince the Perak sultan to transfer power without having to dissolve the state assembly and fight another bruising election.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/cbd4b56b1ff265971a404de0aa2ad05c.gif" alt="jamaluddin mat radzi and osman jailu perak pkr" title="jamaluddin mat radzi and osman jailu perak pkr" align="left" height="142" width="213" />The game plan is for Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (Behrang) (<em>photo, left</em>) and Osman Jailu (<em>Changkat Jering</em>) (photo, right) - the two defectors - to quit PKR and declare themselves as Independents.<br /><br />This will allow BN to claim that the two assemblypersons are not party-hoppers, especially after having taken the high moral ground on the issue of defection. More so, when the duo are being seen as tainted politicians - both of whom are facing corruption charges in court.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/158/d25c6232d8a06ba746b43b97772b6ef2.jpg" alt="najib on kuala terengganu by election 060109 03" title="najib on kuala terengganu by election 060109 03" align="right" height="239" width="209" />Clearly, the prime minister-in-waiting needs to go to the March Umno general assembly with something in his hands or he would have a hard time getting the party behind him for the tough battle ahead.<br /><br />That 'gift' he hopes to bring with him is Perak.<br /><br />But Pakatan is seeking to turn the tables on Najib by declaring the two seats belonging to the defectors vacant, and thus force the Election Commission to call by-elections for both constituencies.<br /><br />The by-elections, pending any legal complications arising out of the validity of the two 'resignation' letters from the duo, must now be held within 60 days.<br /><br />Whether the letters can hold up to scrutiny as it was signed soon after the March 8 general election, Pakatan has succeeded in forcing the two 'missing' politicians to break their five-day silence by making their 'resignation' public.<br /><br /><span class="subtitle">Pakatan has edge in snap polls</span><br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/48ebd5981069890d3ef1fab1bec5d720.gif" alt="behrang state seat 010209" title="behrang state seat 010209" align="right" height="425" width="250" />Should there be indeed by-elections for the two seats, the numbers are stacked against BN.<br /><br />Behrang, which is held by Jamaluddin, is a racially-mixed seat where almost half of its voters are non-Malays.<br /><br />The BN candidate for this seat has been traditionally MIC, given the 19 percent Indian Malaysian voters in the 18,552-strong constituency.<br /><br />Incumbent Jamaluddin, who ran under the PAS banner in 2004, has reversed a 3,748 vote deficit to a comfortable 1,027 majority in the 2008 political tsunami.<br /><br />The state seat, located at the border with Selangor, is one of three state seats under the Tanjong Malim parliamentary constituency, which was won by MCA’s Ong Ka Chuan.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Changkat Jering, which has 63.6 percent Malay voters, also has sizable non-Malay voters - 25.8 percent Chinese and 10.6 percent Indian.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/84f4773176e698d23f67bcf4b1e980b4.gif" alt="changkat jering state seat 010209" title="changkat jering state seat 010209" align="left" height="425" width="250" />Incumbent representative Osman won the seat in 2004 with a narrow 628 majority, but it is expected that a combined might of PKR-DAP-PAS would be able to win the seat for Pakatan as proven in Kaula Terengganu.<br /><br />Changkat Jering is one of three state states under the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat won by PAS in the 2008 general election.<br /><br />Clearly, the last thing Najib wants is to fight two more by-elections, having tasted bitter defeat in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu.<br /><br />His only other choice is find another defector. Yet Pakatan is not sitting still for Najib to strike.<br /><br />The state government is also seeking defections from BN in this tit-for-tat battle. And if push comes to shove, Pakatan can always exercise its final option - dissolve the state assembly and call a snap election in Perak.<br /><br />That too would be the last thing Najib wants - malaysiakini.com<br /><table id="content-box-in" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="470"><tbody><tr style="font-style: italic;"><td id="author"><br /></td></tr><tr><td id="content"><br /></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-13258588618714303202009-02-02T15:23:00.000+10:002009-02-02T15:23:00.502+10:00PAS and PKR deny Perak crisis rumours - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <p>Both PAS and PKR leaders have shot down a suggestion that Perak Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin from PAS would be replaced by a PKR candidate soon.<br /></p><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" width="1" height="1" /></div><br />Leaders from the two components of Pakatan Rakyat spoke in unison to brush aside the suggestion from an unnamed Umno analyst which was published in the <em>Malay Mail </em>yesterday.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/36/3297eae4d018dce245c4a5bc850cb307.jpg" alt="lee boon chye" title="lee boon chye" align="left" width="64" height="64" />PKR vice-president Dr Lee Boon Chye did not see this as an issue and Pakatan in Perak “are still supporting Mohamad Nizar as menteri besar at the moment”.<br /><br />“Some people like to fuel up the issue now that they are feeling more threatened because more BN assemblypersons are leaving and they are feeling the pressure.<br /><br />“But as far as we are concerned, we support Mohamad Nizar as the menteri besar and there is no plan to remove him from the post,” he stressed.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/129/7b388cfded4541be46ee8a743137c9ce.jpg" alt="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 05" title="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 05" align="left" width="160" height="236" />According to the <em>Malay Mail</em> report, the Umno analyst argued that the <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97128" target="_blank"><strong>defection</strong></a> of former Umno Bota assemblyperson Nasharuddin Hashim last week could be an advantage to PKR “to wrest away the menteri besar post now held by PAS’ Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin”.<p><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>What the analyst said</strong></span><br /><br />“Nasharuddin’s defection has now given PKR a highly qualified candidate for the menteri besar post. He is a graduate and a former high ranking civil servant. This gives PKR a candidate who can be alleviated to the post.<br /><br />“I am sure it will not be long before PKR initiates plans to wrest the menteri besar post away from PAS,” he said.<br /><br />The Umno analyst also pointed out that PKR “should have had the menteri besar post as it had won eight seats to PAS’ six in the last general election.”<br /><br />“(But) the post went to PAS as PKR did not have qualified candidates among its state assemblypersons (then),” the source said.<br /><br />At the PAS end, it is all easy going too - the party is unperturbed by the latest ‘conspiracy theory’.<br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/49/0445289ebd6571452225e55014fac1c6.jpg" alt="mahfuz omar 01" title="mahfuz omar 01" align="right" width="64" height="64" /><br />Information chief Mahfuz Omar said the suggestion from the “Umno street analyst” did not make any sense at all.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" width="214" height="203" />“For us PAS, we have no problem, because the appointment for the new menteri besar is under the jurisdiction of the sultan. He has the right to appoint anybody whom he thinks is qualified for the job,” he told<em> Malaysiakini </em>when contacted.<br /><br />“Besides, it is only Pakatan’s concern on the menteri besar issue, not Umno’s,” Mahfuz asserted.</p><p>Pakatan has 32 seats in Perak with DAP (18), PKR (8) and PAS (6), while BN has 27 with Umno (26) and MCA (1) - malaysiakini.com </p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-23580870018461194272009-02-02T15:01:00.000+10:002009-02-02T15:01:01.280+10:00Missing DAP assemblywoman found! - malaysiakiniThe Star reports:<br /><br /><br /><p>IPOH: A DAP state assemblyman’s disappearance caused another round of anxiety within the Pakatan Rakyat state government yesterday.</p> <p>State assembly deputy speaker and Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong was said to have gone missing and was incommunicado for several hours yesterday.</p> <p>Her disappearance fuelled further speculation about the Pakatan leader crossing over to Barisan Nasional.</p> <p>DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng even came out with a statement stating that any Perak DAP elected representatives who was incommunicado for more than 24 hours without reason would find their seats vacated.</p> <p>Hee had been embroiled in a controversy emanating from frustrations that had been rising steadily over the two cousins – Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and state DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming. Hee is said to belong to a faction opposed to the two cousins.</p> <p>During her short disappearance yesterday, Lim issued a stern warning that the party would seriously consider calling a by-election in the event of any Perak DAP elected representative going incommunicado for 24 hours without any just cause.</p> <p>At a press conference late last night at her residence in Taman Ehsan here, Hee hit out at Lim saying she was disappointed by his press statement, adding that he should have investigated first before releasing the press statement.</p> <p>She also demanded Lim to apologise to her constituents for causing the unnecessary uproar.</p> <p>She quashed claims that she had resigned from Pakatan and joined MCA or Gerakan.</p> <p>Hee said she is still a DAP member and Jelapang’s elected representative.</p> <p>“It’s all just a rumour and hearsay spread by unscrupulous people, I don’t need to explain anything,” she said.</p> <p>“I have never had any intention of leaving the party and would feel very heavy-hearted if I did,” said Hee, who has been with the party for almost 22 years.</p> <p>She also explained that she was absent from an emergency meeting held by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin yesterday morning because of her sickness.</p> <p>“I had switched off my mobile phone yesterday because I was down with fever,” she said.</p> <p>“Party leaders and other assemblymen could have tried contacting me through my husband’s mobile phone but they did not do it,” she added.</p> <p>“I’m surprised that people thought I was in hiding and that I had held discussions with Barisan Nasional when they couldn’t get me,” she said. She added that she had told Titi Serong assemblyman Khalil Idaham Lim Abdullah about not being able to attend the meeting.</p> <p>When asked whether she had been approached by Barisan Nasio-nal component parties to join them, Hee said she had not been approached by anyone.</p> <p>However, several hours before the press conference Hee said she was away in the morning to visit her mother.</p> <p>Asked whether she was crossing over as rumoured, she said: “I am not going to say anything. I have not gone missing.”</p> <p>Hee is said to be a staunch supporter of Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan who does not see eye-to-eye with the two cousins.</p> <p>Fong had even gone to the stage of announcing her refusal to defend her Batu Gajah seat last March because of the differences.</p> <p>However, Fong changed her mind when the national leadership intervened.</p><p><br /></p><p>Malaysiakini's report when out.<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-53303132628364238322009-02-02T14:49:00.000+10:002009-02-02T14:49:00.685+10:00Perak PKR assemblymen confirms they are quitting PKR - malaysiakiniThe Star reports:<br /><br /><br /> <p>IPOH: Undated resignation letters signed by PKR candidates after last year’s March 8 elections were believed to have been sent by PKR to the state speaker to announce the resignation of two of its assemblymen.</p> <p>Letters from Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) were sent to speaker V. Sivakumar at about 5.45pm yesterday.</p> <p>A few hours later, Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman denied sending the letters and vacating their seats.</p> <div class="story_image center" style="width: 414px;"> <img src="http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/2/2/nation/n_jamal.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="341" /> </div> <div class="story_image center" style="width: 414px;"> <img src="http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/2/2/nation/n_othman.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="324" /> </div> <div class="story_image center" style="width: 414px;"> <img src="http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/2/2/nation/n_hee.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="369" /> </div> <p>Jamaluddin said the resignation letter that was supposedly sent was actually an old undated “resignation letter” that he and the other six assemblymen from PKR were forced to sign in late March.</p> <p>Sivakumar said the letters were sent to him at his house.</p> <p>“Both Mohd Osman and Jamaluddin resigned as state assemblymen with immediate effect. I have accepted their resignation based on Article XXXV of the state constitution.</p> <p>“As the state speaker, I will announce the two state seats N14 Changkat Jering and N59 of Behrang vacant as soon as possible,” he said.</p> <p>Sivakumar said he would also be getting in touch with the Election Commission today to inform it about the latest development.</p> <p>This, he said, was to enable the commission to make arrangements for by-elections to be held within 60 days as required under the state constitution.</p> <p>Jamaluddin added, “I am still the state assemblyman for Behrang. I have not resigned. I will challenge the validity of the ‘old’ letter as it was signed under duress.”</p> <p>Jamaluddin said he was discussing with his lawyers what his next course of action should be.</p> <p>He said the resignation letter was not valid as it was not sent by him, although it bore his signature.</p> <p>He questioned how he could have personally sent the letter to Sivakumar when he was supposed to be “missing” as claimed by PKR leaders.</p> <p>“And if it was sent by post, then there should be a postmark to show where it was sent from,” he added.</p> <p>He said there was no reason whatsoever for him to resign just because he had problems with his party leaders.</p> <p>“My problems are with PKR leaders, not with the people of Behrang. I will not shirk my responsibilities,” he said. Jamaluddin however refused to divulge his whereabouts saying that he was safe and was not confined by force by anyone.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">He also denied rumours that he would be crossing over to Umno, but confirmed he would quit PKR and remain as an Independent.</p> <p>Mohd Osman said there was no reason for him to resign and he would continue to serve as a representative of the people.</p> <p>Both of them said in a statement late last night that they would reveal more in a press conference today. They created a stir in Perak by “disappearing” from the scene since Jan 26.</p> <p>Earlier yesterday, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin admitted that the two men have been incommunicado since the first day of Chinese New Year.</p> <p>Even family members and Pakatan leaders, he said, could not contact the two whom he claimed had been “stolen or kidnapped by Barisan and specifically Umno.”</p> <p>“For the past five days, I have tried to call them and SMS them, but failed. I even contacted the cellular operators and gave them their numbers but they could not be detected.</p> <p>“Not even their family members could reach them, it’s impossible,” he told reporters after an emergency meeting with Pakatan assemblymen at his residence here.</p> <p>Nizar believed that their disappearance was a Barisan “evil ploy” to bring down the state government by taking advantage of the two assemblymen who are schedueld to face corruption proceedings on Feb 10.</p><p><br /></p><p>malaysiakini's report when out.<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-82430568619589501312009-02-02T14:07:00.000+10:002009-02-02T10:48:47.064+10:00Emergency meeting held by Pakatan leaders over Perak defection crisis - malaysiakiniThe Star's report:<br /><br /><br /><p>PETALING JAYA: PAS is calling for a meeting today to discuss the latest political developments in Perak, party deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa said.</p> <p>“I only knew about the disputed resignation of the two assemblymen last night and have yet to receive a full report on the matter, I do not think that there will be more (people resigning or defecting).</p> <p>“As it is, we are calling for a meeting to discuss the matter. More will be known on Monday (this) morning,” he said.</p> <p>In Bukit Mertajam, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said all leaders under the Pakatan Rakyat coalition in Perak had pledged loyalty that they would stand behind Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.</p> <p>“We prefer to face the <i>rakyat</i> in elections (rather than losing control of Perak to Barisan as a result of crossovers) as we are more confident with the election process,” he told reporters after meeting with six PKR leaders at Yayasan Aman, here.</p> <p>PKR information chief Tian Chua said the party was confident it would be able to retain the two seats if by-elections were declared.</p> <p>“We are not worried that the two seats will be taken away from us as we had succeeded in taking over the two seats from Barisan in the past, let alone retaining what we already have,” he said.</p><p><br /></p><p>Malaysiakini's report when out.<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-38496326179260535912009-02-02T13:55:00.000+10:002009-02-02T13:55:01.140+10:002 PKR assemblymen feared bought by UMNO - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <p>Perak PKR has accused Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of attempting to entice two state executive councillors (exco), who have been missing for four days, to defect.<br /></p><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" width="1" height="1" /></div><br />"We believe that there are efforts by Barisan Nasional to persuade the duo to join them in exchange for a desperate reward on offer by Najib, including dropping corruption charges against them," said Perak PKR chief Osman Abdul Rahman.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/139/a8968fa51a68ea48b7dbf772a5b71061.jpg" alt="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" title="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" align="right" width="250" height="155" />Over the past few days, <strong><a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97320" target="_blank">rumours</a></strong> that two Perak exco members - Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (<em>in pink shirt</em>) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu - are quitting PKR have been rife. The duo have not publicly denied this.<br /><br />The rumours surfaced immediately after Bota assemblyperson Nasarudin Hashim <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97128" target="_blank"><strong>left</strong></a> Umno for PKR last Sunday. Najib took over as Perak Umno chief after Tajol Rosli Ghazali stepped down to take responsibility for the defection.<br /><br />Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman are both facing <strong><a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/89756" target="_blank">corruption charges</a> </strong>and their trial is scheduled to begin Feb 10.<p>The duo and three others were charged last year for corruption in relations to a RM180 million housing project spanning 36 hectares in Sri Iskandar, some 30-minutes south of Ipoh.</p><p>Jamaluddin is in charge of state government’s entrepreneur development, cooperatives, agriculture and trade portfolios, while Mohd Osman is charge of tourism, human capital development and non-government organisations. </p><p><strong><span style="color:#993300;">'Don't be trapped by Umno'</span></strong></p><p>In a faxed statement today, Osman said family members of the duo and party members have been unable to contact them for four days.<br /><br />"We believe that their disappearance is closely linked to the corruption charges they are facing. Since the beginning, we have been confident that the allegations against them are false and cooked up by Umno and Barisan Nasional as political blackmail," he said.<br /><br />"However, we hope that the two leaders are safe and steadfast in the party (PKR) struggle, and will not be trapped by Umno-BN who purportedly want to include them in their fight to protect the Malays," he added. </p><p><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" width="214" height="203" />With the defection of Nasarudin, the Pakatan Rakyat state government has increased its majority from two to three.</p><p>However, should the two PKR exco defect to BN, Pakatan will have a slim one-seat majority of 30 to 29.</p><p>It is learnt that Najib is seeking one more defection from Pakatan to enable BN to form the state government. </p><p>At present, Pakatan has 32 seats in Perak with DAP (18), PKR (8) and PAS (6), while BN has 27 with Umno (26) and MCA (1).</p><p>To resolve the political instability, Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin may exercise the option of dissolving the state assembly and call a snap election in Perak.</p><p>But the Perak sultan will be called to play a pivotal role in whether to agree with Mohmad Nizar in dissolving the state assembly or hand over the state government to the one which commands the majority, which in this case could be BN - malaysiakini.com </p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-2847132461536002652009-02-02T12:33:00.000+10:002009-02-02T12:33:46.466+10:00Mini crisis in Sabah as Perak resignation crisis unfolds - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br />Pensiangan MP Joseph Kurup, who had his parliamentary seat taken away on Sept 8 last year by an election court, will no longer demand that he be the “automatic” BN candidate in a by-election widely expected soon.<br /><div style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; left: 0pt; top: 0pt; position: absolute; visibility: hidden;">MCPX<img style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden;" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" align="left" width="1" height="1" /></div><br />The Sabah leader has appealed against the court verdict on Sept 11 and will be expecting a decision next Friday.<br /><br />“It is for the BN leadership to decide (on the candidate) should there be a by-election,” said Kurup, also the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president and federal deputy minister for rural and national development.<br /><br />“It is still too early to talk about a by-election especially since the appeal to the Federal Court is still pending.”<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/129/715168c324ea099e6a04b878966abc69.jpg" alt="bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 joseph kurup" title="bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 joseph kurup" align="left" width="166" height="188" />Kurup spoke to the media on the sidelines of a PBRS convention yesterday in Kota Kinabalu after telling the delegates that “we (PBRS) no longer want to be used (by BN) and that “there’s something wrong with BN”.<br /><br />He also blamed the attitude of BN leaders, their approach in addressing the people’s plight, corruption and other issues such as religion for the ruling coalition’s failure to win a two-thirds majority during the general election in March last year.<br /><br />BN also lost five states and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur to the opposition alliance and has since suffered two successive by-election defeats - in Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu.<br /><br />Kurup was initially coy when asked whether he would defend his Murut-dominated Pensiangan seat in the event of a by-election and went on to add: “Don’t know yet. Wait till my court case is over. Too early to say, we will wait and see (what happens).”<br /><br />He conceded that other BN component parties were also vying for the Pensiangan seat with Umno being the latest after former Pensiangan MP Bernard Maarat, formerly with PBRS and now with PBS, told the media that he could win the seat for the coalition.<br /><br />There’s talk that PBS could “loan” Maarat as a candidate to PBRS or that Umno may have another candidate in mind, also a local Murut, for “loan” to PBRS. Kurup is neither a Murut nor a local, apparently a sore point with Pensiangan voters.<br /><br />“We are already on the ground, spreading the vision and mission to bring the people, especially those in the interior, out of poverty,” claimed Kurup subtly underlining his credentials for the seat.<br /><br />“Everywhere I go in Pensiangan, people tell me that they want development and they realise that only BN can provide that to them. I have already outlined what we can do to bring them out of poverty.”<br /><span style="color:#993300;"><strong><br />Ex-defector: Anti-hopping law ‘not suitable for now’</strong></span><br /><br />On the proposed anti-hop law, Kurup pointed out that “the BN did not have the necessary two-thirds majority to amend the federal constitution” and that “the proposal was not suitable for now”.<br /><br /> “What both the BN and opposition should do was for them not to accept people who wanted to cross over,” advised Kurup.<br /><br />The media had been particularly interested in Kurup’s take on the anti-hop law since he left with six other state assemblymen in 1994 for BN to bring about the downfall of the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) government within a month of the state elections.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Kurup’s dramatic turnaround on Pensiangan, where he claimed proprietary rights, was in sharp contrast to his belligerent remarks in recent days against his former mentor, PBS president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, after the latter opined that there was no automatic candidate for Pensiangan.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/129/8c80d7cf7f45136f1d8492d5c441ed85.jpg" alt="bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 pairin kitingan" title="bn supreme council mt meeting sapp sabah issue 190608 pairin kitingan" align="left" />Pairin had warned that BN could only win in Pensiangan with the full cooperation of all component parties.<br /><br />Kurup, in turn retaliated and challenged Pairin to a public debate on the latter’s record of public service and his “colourful and well-documented history”, an apparent reference to the PBS pull-out from BN nearly two decades ago on the eve of the 1990 general election.<br /><br />Kurup, at that time, was PBS deputy president.<br /><br />He threw a fit in the media when PBS secretary-general Raden Malleh advised him against considering himself as a candidate for Pensiangan on the BN ticket and reminded him to “think of the fate of the coalition and the people, and not just of himself”.<br /><br />Other critics pointed out that Kurup had to “flee for dear life” after winning the seat “unopposed” on the grounds that challenger Danny Anthony Andipai of PKR had filed his nomination papers “three minutes late”.<br /><br />Soon after, Kurup suffered a punch in the face from an irate voter as the other assembled villagers turned hostile, before he could get away.<br /><br />BN secretary-general Karim Bujang, in a rare step, rebuked both men in public, prompting Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman to step in and ask “the two quarrelling Josephs” to take their differences behind closed doors.<br /><br />He blamed the increased temperature on Pensiangan on the media.<br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;"><strong>By-election could be as early as February</strong></span><br /><br />If a by-election is called in Persiangan, it could held as early as this month.<br /><br />March and April are not considered suitable months for the by-election considering the Umno party elections and “the transition of power” from outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his deputy, Najib Razak.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/141/cb781ca01e2633ca77ed4a225bed67cf.gif" alt="pensiangan sabah parliament seat 080908" title="pensiangan sabah parliament seat 080908" align="right" width="250" height="439" />The Federal Court has six months from Sept 11 - until March 11 - to decide on the Pensiangan case.<br /><br />A verdict was expected earlier last month but was allegedly delayed because of the recent Kuala Terengganu.<br /><br />A by-election, if there is going to be one, has to be held within 60 days. If it is not in February, then it is likely to be held in May.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Kurup who continues as Pensiangan MP and as a federal deputy minister, has been accused by the opposition and his other critics of neglecting his job in Kuala Lumpur and camping out in his constituency to hand out “zinc sheets and other development aid”.<br /><br />Maarat, has since pointed out that this kind of politicking will no longer work. He is more worried that projects promised in the area under the Sabah Development Corridor has not materialised and this may work in the opposition’s favour. <br /><br />He was denied the chance to defend his Pensiangan seat last March 8 when Kurup decided that he wanted the seat for himself but told the media that Maarat “had not been performing in the seat”.<br /><br />Maarat subsequently left PBRS and joined PBS where he has been appointed the chairman of Sandakan Sawit Palm Oil Industrial Cluster - malaysiakini.comvchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-4280267578037224732009-02-02T12:17:00.001+10:002009-02-02T12:32:47.212+10:00Perak Pakatan takes police action over resignation crisis in Perak - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><div style="margin:0;padding:0;left:0;top:0;position:absolute;visibility:hidden">MCPX<img style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" align="left" height="1" width="1" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" /></div><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> The Perak Pakatan Rakyat government is ready to swing into action after waiting for five days to hear from its two missing state exco members.</p><p>Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin today said that his government would be lodging a 'missing person' police report after consulting with the families of the two PKR state representatives.<br /><br />Mohammad Nizar also urged the duo - Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering state representative Osman Jailu - to come forward even if they have decided to join the Barisan Nasional.</p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><div classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></div> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stopped short of confirming that the duo are on their way to the BN.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters this morning, the BN chairperson however said that several Pakatan elected representatives in Perak would be jumping ship to join BN soon.<br /><br />Abdullah nevertheless declined to reveal more information.</p><p><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/129/322f975b252f99bbf55f0e92b42ea09c.jpg" alt="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 11" title="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 11" align="left" width="280" height="212" />Earlier today, Mohammad Nizar held a meeting with all state Pakatan representatives and leaders to discuss the continued absence of the two.<br /><br />The meeting was at Mohammad Nizar's official residence in Ipoh was chaired by the menteri besar.<br /><br />Also present was ex-Umno Bota assemblyperson Nasarudin Hashim who crossed over to PKR last week.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mohammad Nizar confirmed that the two state excos have been incommunicado for the past five days and have been out of contact with family members and state officials.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"><strong>Seen in Pekan?</strong></span></p><p>The MB also said that neither state official nor family members were able to contact the two men. They have not been seen in public since last Monday, the day after Nasaruddin defected to PKR.</p><p><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/821deb434cd328a9f2001375b89e31af.jpg" alt="perak mb pc on missing exco 010209" title="perak mb pc on missing exco 010209" align="right" />Mohamad Nizar also urged the two state excos to come out and state publicly if they were going to join the BN.<br /><br />However he added the state government would not be jeopardised even if there was a crossover involving the two.<br /><br />"Only God knows if there is going to be a crossover involving the two. I have not heard anything. If they want to leave the government, they must write and inform officially," he said.<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->Text messages are also flying about mentioning that the two were spotted in Pekan, in the company of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. However this could not be confirmed.</p><p>When asked to comment on the matter, premier Abdullah said that an official announcement would be made once all the necessary procedures are completed.<br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/139/a8968fa51a68ea48b7dbf772a5b71061.jpg" alt="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" title="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" align="right" width="250" height="155" /></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> "We will make the official announcement when all things are in place," he added. </p><p>Jamaluddin, 52, is the Perak entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairperson while Osman, 57, heads the state tourism and NGO committee.<br /><br />They were charged in a Sessions Court on Aug 25 last year with allegedly receiving bribes over the application for a RM180 million housing project in Sri Iskandar in Perak Tengah. Their case comes up for hearing on Feb 10. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0);"><strong>Possible snap election in Perak</strong></span></p><p>It is also learnt that the state Pakatan Rakyat government would consider releasing undated letters of resignations signed by the two. </p><p>These letters were signed by all Pakatan state representatives just after the March 8, 2008 general election and are being kept by the menteri besar.<br /><br />The release of such letters - expected to be done in the coming days - could mean that the planned defection of the duo, if it happens, would not add the number of seats for BN in the state assembly.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" width="200" height="189" />And if the letters are released, it is expected that by-elections for both the state seats could be held. Election laws also prohibit resigned elected representatives from contesting for the seats.<br /><br />With the defection of Nasarudin, the Pakatan Rakyat state government has increased its majority from two to three.</p><p>However, should the two PKR exco defect to BN, Pakatan will have a slim one-seat majority of 30 to 29.</p><p>It is learnt that BN is seeking at least one more defection from Pakatan to enable BN to form the state government. </p><p>At present, Pakatan has 32 seats in Perak with DAP (18), PKR (8) and PAS (6), while BN has 27 with Umno (26) and MCA (1).</p><p>Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar may however exercise his option of calling a snap election in Perak.</p><p>But the Perak sultan will be called to play a pivotal role on whether to agree with Mohmad Nizar in dissolving the state assembly or hand over the state government to the one which commands the majority, which in this case could be BN. </p><p>Meanwhile, PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim is also expected to hold a meeting with all Perak PKR state representatives and leaders in Permatang Pauh at 3pm today - malaysiakini.com<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-17210016388152568732009-02-02T11:51:00.000+10:002009-02-02T11:51:30.579+10:00Hipocrisy of Badawi - Now jumping is OK! - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><div style="margin:0;padding:0;left:0;top:0;position:absolute;visibility:hidden">MCPX<img style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" align="left" height="1" width="1" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" /></div><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><div classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></div> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today revealed that several Pakatan Rakyat state representatives from Perak could soon join the Barisan Nasional.<br /><br />"God willing, it will happen," he was quoted as saying by <em>Bernama</em>. He said this when asked to comment on talks that two missing Perak Pakatan state excos are defecting to BN.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/154/115bbe09f982cc003b7244a3c616af18.jpg" alt="abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah parliament pc 101208 04" title="abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah parliament pc 101208 04" align="left" width="200" height="267" />Abdullah, also the BN chairperson, had earlier launched the Federal Territory Day Festival at the Titiwangsa Lake in Kuala Lumpur.<br /><br />He refused to state the identity or the number of Pakatan representatives that are planning to defect.<br /><br />He however added that elected representatives would want to join Umno because they had confidence in its struggle.<br /><br />"(We will) accept them as it is their choice and they want to join us in the struggle... it will be a new experience for them and allow them the opportunities to serve through the BN," said Abdullah.<br /><br />"We will make the official announcement when all things are in place," he added.<br /><br />The premier also said that there was a possibility of Pakatan state representatives from other states joining the BN.<br /><br />"If we want to increase party membership, we should open the party to those who want to join. We should not say that we don't want certain people to join the party... We will accept them into Umno," he said.<br /><br />Talks are rife that two Perak excos - Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering state representative Osman Jailu - will be defecting to the BN.<br /><br />The two have been missing for the past five days, totally out of contact with their family members and the state officials.<br /><br /><span style="color:#800000;"><strong>Nizar: Three from Umno to join us</strong><br /></span><br />Earlier today, Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin confirmed that the two PKR state representatives have been missing.<br /><br />He also urged them to come out and state publicly if they were going to join the BN.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/129/fedad04995a2eeb0ce8f8345abb98f3a.jpg" alt="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 10" title="nizar jamaluddin 100 days interview 180608 10" align="right" width="200" height="222" />"BN is hiding them somewhere. This is their work to derail the Pakatan state government here," he told reporters after a <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/97357" target="_blank"><strong>meeting</strong></a> with state leaders this morning.<br /><br />However he added the state government would not be jeopardised even if there was a crossover involving the two.<br /><br />"Only God knows if there is going to be a crossover involving the two. I have not heard anything.<br /><br />"If they want to leave the government, they must write and inform officially," he said.<br /><br />He also stressed that no other Pakatan state representative will be jumping ship. Instead he said that a minimum of three Umno state representatives will be joining Pakatan soon.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" width="200" height="189" />"We are in negotiations with them now and they will join us," he said.<br /><br />Last Sunday, Umno's Bota assemblyperson Nasarudin Hashim switched sides to PKR, prompting an intense tit-for-tat fight between the BN and Pakatan to bolster their camp with defectors.<br /><br />Pakatan currently holds 32 state seats against BN's 27 in the 59-seat state assembly - malaysiakini.comvchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-5827274613118541302009-02-02T11:39:00.000+10:002009-02-02T11:40:54.821+10:00Perak resignation crisis: DAP assemblywoman denies shes quitting DAP - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /> <p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><div style="margin:0;padding:0;left:0;top:0;position:absolute;visibility:hidden">MCPX<img style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" align="left" height="1" width="1" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" /></div><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><div classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></div> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Perak state assembly deputy speaker Hee Yit Fong today fuelled speculation of her imminent crossover over to MCA following her disappearance from the public.<br /><br />Hee, 46, who is the DAP's state representative for Jelapang, was rumoured to be defecting to MCA.</p><p>The speculation intensified after she had missed a state and party function recently. She was also absent from the meeting chaired by Mentri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin this morning.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/125/49c6cb90af11f5280445af676197513f.jpg" alt="hee yit foong" title="hee yit foong" align="left" width="64" height="64" />The media went into overdrive when all attempts to contact her via her mobile telephone had been unsuccessful.<br /><br />And sources said she would be attending a MCA function tonight in Ipoh.<br /><br />However, the mystery over her disappearance was solved when her party leaders managed to contact her later in the day.<br /><br />It was learnt that Hee had stressed to her party leaders of her continued support for DAP and Pakatan Rakyat.<br /><br />Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham also confirmed to <em>Malaysiakini</em> that Hee had been in touch and would not be defecting.</p><p><span style="color:#800000;"><strong>Found in her house</strong></span></p><p>The Chinese media had also tracked her to her house in Ipoh. </p><p>She had reportedly told the reporters that she was not in hiding but had switched off her handphone due to too many phone calls asking her to comment on the defection rumour.<br /><br />Talks of Hee defecting from DAP is not new. Such talks <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/news/82769" target="_blank"><strong>first emerged</strong></a> in May last year but Hee continued to stay with DAP and Pakatan. </p><p>It is an open secret that Hee has not be on good terms with DAP state leaders, in particular the Ngeh-Nga cousins - Perak DAP chief Ngeh and the party's state secretary Nga Kor Ming. </p><p>In recent days, Hee has missed two key events.</p><p>The first was DAP's Chinese New Year open house on Jan 26, in which Hee said that she went back to her hometown in Penang. </p><p>The other was Perak government's Chinese New Year celebration in Ipoh padang two days ago.</p><p>She said that she had a prior meeting with her supporters.</p><p><span style="color:#800000;"><strong>BN may have the numbers</strong></span></p><p>If Hee had defected, BN would have had the three additional representatives it needed to claim government.</p><p>The other two are Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Osman Jailu, both of whom have been missing for almost one week. </p><p><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" width="195" height="185" />At present, Pakatan has 32 seats in Perak with DAP (18), PKR (8) and PAS (6), while BN has 27 with Umno (26) and MCA (1).</p><p>Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin may however exercise his option of calling a snap election in Perak.</p><p>But the Perak sultan will be called to play a pivotal role on whether to agree with Mohmad Nizar in dissolving the state assembly or hand over the state government to the one which commands the majority, which in this case could be BN.</p><p>However, with only two likely defections, Mohamad Nizar will most likely to be pressing for by-elections in the two state seats held by Jamaluddin and Osman should it be confirmed that the duo had indeed resigned as state assemblypersons. </p><p>However, Jamaluddin was reported to have said late this evening that while he intended to resign from PKR, he had not resigned as state rep for his Behrang sea - malaysiakini.com </p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4348323690363332220.post-47332792888467365072009-02-02T10:58:00.000+10:002009-02-02T10:58:44.394+10:00Resignation crisis in Perak state government - malaysiakiniMalaysiakini's report:<br /><br /> <p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><div style="margin:0;padding:0;left:0;top:0;position:absolute;visibility:hidden">MCPX<img style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" align="left" height="1" width="1" src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/track/?id=dW5oY3I%3D" /></div><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar said that he had received letters of resignation from both Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyperson Osman Jailu.</p><p>He said that he received their letters at about 5.45pm at his house.<br /><br />"They have stepped down as state assemblypersons with immediate effect," he said in a statement today.<br /><br />With that, Sivakumar declared both the Behrang and Chankat Jering state seats vacant, necessitating two by-elections soon.<br /><br />He added that he will be informing the Election Commission tomorrow about the vacancy. The by-elections for the two state seats will have to be held within 60 days.</p><p>Sivakumar did not say how he received the letters.</p><p>The two PKR state representatives have been missing for the past five days, prompting speculations that they have defected to Barisan Nasional.<br /><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/139/a8968fa51a68ea48b7dbf772a5b71061.jpg" alt="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" title="pkr permatang pc 230808 perak exco jamaluddin and osman" align="right" width="250" height="155" />Jamaluddin, 52, is the Perak Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman while Osman, 57, heads the State Tourism and NGO Committee.<br /><br />They were charged in a Sessions Court on Aug 25 last year with allegedly receiving bribes over the application for a RM180 million housing project in Sri Iskandar in Perak Tengah. Their case comes up for hearing on Feb 10.</p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><div classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></div> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <span style="color:#800000;"><strong>Jamaluddin: I have not resigned</strong></span><br /><br />However the announcement of the resignations by the speaker is disputed, at least by Jamaluddin, who broke his five-day silence late this evening.<br /><br />According to a report in <em>The Star Online</em>, Jamaluddin is reported as denying that he had resigned as a state representative. He also challenged the validity of his resignation letter.<br /><br />"This is an undated letter that I and six other PKR assemblymen were made to sign in March last year," he said.<br /><br />He said that the letter was only a pledge of loyalty, stating that if they (the state representative) were to ever quit PKR, they would automatically vacate their seats.</p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> He added that the letter was signed under duress and that he would be discussing the legality of it with his lawyers.<br /><br />"I am still Behrang assemblyman," Jamaluddin was quoted as saying.</p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->"Osman and I are still PKR state representatives and have never declared our intentions to leave the party or to become independents, or to join Umno," he said, according to a <em>Bernama</em> report.</p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> But in the <em>Star</em> report, Jamaluddin was quoted as saying that he would be quitting PKR to become an independent.<br /><br />"My problems are with PKR leaders, not with the people of Behrang. I will not simply shirk my responsibilities to them," he said. </p><p>This is the first time he has expressed his situation ever since he was reported missing for the past five days, amids speculations of both of them joining BN. </p><p>The crucial point is whether the duo had indeed resigned as state assemblypersons, which will immediately trigger by-elections in their two seats. </p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Jamaluddin also said that he had been on medical leave since Wednesday.<br /><br />"The MC is in my office. I have not been missing," he said. He however refused to reveal his whereabouts during his ‘missing' period.</p><p><span style="color:#800000;"><strong>Emergency meeting at MB's residence<br /></strong></span><br /><img src="http://media1.malaysiakini.com/164/31201183ee611b6dc3e85ea77ee7ff95.gif" alt="perak majority slim 300109" title="perak majority slim 300109" align="left" width="200" height="189" />Meanwhile it is learnt that all the Pakatan state representatives have gathered at Menteri Besar Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin's official residence in Ipoh for an emergency meeting.<br /><br />Pakatan Rakyat currently holds 32 state seats against Barisan's 27 in the 59-seat State Assembly.</p><p>Earlier today, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi confirmed that some Pakatan state assemblypersons were on the verge of joining BN.</p><p>He however did not reveal the identities of the defecting politicians - malaysiakini.com<br /></p>vchihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10358109116875109100noreply@blogger.com0