Perak political drama (Updated)
The Star
Newsflash (5:53pm): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi arrives at Istana Kinta to pay a courtesy call on Sultan Azlan Shah. He arrives with an entourage of nine cars.
Newsflash (5:40pm); The office of Sultan Azlan Shah issues a statement explaining the Sultan's stand. Click here to read it.
Newsflash (5:10pm) MB Nizar says the Pakatan Rakyat state government will not resign because it still is in power. Instead, it will seek another audience with the Sultan to request the state assembly be dissolved and fresh elections called.
Newsflash (4:50pm) MB Nizar tells press conference Pakatan Rakyat will appeal to the Sultan for the state assembly to be dissolved so that the people of Perak can decide on their next government. He, however, has not yet to address the issue about him resigning as MB.
Newsflash (4:45pm) PM Datuk Seri Abdullah has told Pakatan Rakyat to accept Barisan's rule in Perak. "They should accept it just as we had accepted results of the general election," he said. Abdullah also expressed his appreciation to the Perak Sultan for not dissolving the state assembly.
Newsflash (4:21pm) Police and FRU have taken over the State Secretariat building. Once Sultan Azlan Shah declared the Mentri Besar and excos must step down, the state secretary sent letters to all excos telling them to surrender their belongings, such as keys and cars etc. He also went to the offices of the excos and told all their personal assistants to leave immediately.
Newsflash (3:30pm) PM is seeking an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah later Thursday evening.
Newsflash (2.25pm): Sultan Azlan Shah does not consent to dissolution of state assembly and asks Nizar to resign as Perak Mentri Besar, reports Bernama quoting a statement from the Sultan's office. If Nizar fails to do so, the post would be considered as vacant.
Newsflash (1:10pm) MB Nizar, looking cheerful, just left Istana Kinta and said that Anwar will give a press conference at 3pm at his residence
Newsflash (12:30pm) IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan warns of stern action against Pakatan Rakyat supporters who take part in illegal gatherings in Ipoh
Newsflash (11:56am) Najib told reporters that he has informed Sultan Azlan Shah that Barisan has the majority to form the Perak state government. He said the Ruler will announce his decision soon.
Newsflash (11:55am) Perak speaker V. Sivakumar has just left the High Court after applying to the court to declare the resignation letters of the three assembymen as valid and, therefore, their seats vacant.
Newsflash (11:50am) PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be at Perak Mentri Besar’s office at 3pm and a mammoth gathering is planned for 7pm at the MB’s residence.
Newsflash (11:38am) Perak Mentri Besar Nizar told reporters in Bagan Serai that he has just been summoned to Istana Kinta.
Newsflash (11:34am) Najib has left Istana Kinta with the four assemblymen.
Newsflash (11:21am) Najib returned to Istana Kinta, this time with four former Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang),Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), Jelapang Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) and Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim (Bota) to meet the Sultan of Perak.
Newsflash (10:35am) Perak Umno state chief Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi leave Istana Kinta. Najib is expected to chair the state liaison committee meeting to discuss the Barisan candidate for the Perak Mentri Besar's post.
Newsflash (9:50am) Deputy Prime Minister and Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and state Umno deputy chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datoh MP) enter Istana Kinta to seek Sultan Azlan Shah’s consent for Barisan to form the new Perak government.
Newsflash (9:00am) Speaker V. Sivakumar told reporters that he will ask the High Court on Thursday to declare as valid the undated letters of resignation by the three Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen – PKR’s Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) and DAP’s Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) – who resigned from their respective parties to become Independents who have pledged to support Barisan Nasional.
Najib, Zahid meet Sultan Azlan Shah
IPOH: As Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datoh) sought Sultan Azlan Shah’s consent to form the next Perak government on Thursday, Pakatan’s state assembly speaker V. Sivakumar turned to the High Court to seek a declaration that the undated letters of resignation of three assemblymen, who declared themselves independent, were valid.
With the return of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to Umno, Barisan now has 28 seats in the state assembly. PKR’s seats in the assembly was reduced to 28 after Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and DAP’s Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) declared themselves Independent and threw their support behind Barisan.
