Sivakumar’s Lawyers File Appeal Against Court’s Decision

A band of lawyers who said they represented Perak State Legislative Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar Friday (6 March) filed an appeal against Thursday's (5 March) decision of the High Court here.

One of them, Leong Cheok Keng, said the notice of appeal was filed at the High Court here as well as the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya by counsel Philip Koh.

"The Speaker had been denied the right to his choice of counsel and I think it is a matter serious enough for the Court of Appeal to deliberate on," he told reporters.

Yesterday, Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Hashim ruled that the Speaker could only be represented by the State Legal Adviser in the suits brought by 10 members of the state assembly including Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

Zambry and the six State Executive Councillors — Datuk Ramly Zahari, Datuk Saarani Mohamad, Hamidah Osman, Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin, Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid and Dr Mah Hang Soon — are seeking a declaration that the Speaker's decision in suspending and preventing them from attending the assembly sittings for 18 months (for Zambry) and 12 months (for the rest) null and void.

There independent lawmakers — Jamaluddin Md Radzi, Capt (R) Mohd Osman Jailu and Hee Yit — want the court to declare that their Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang seats not vacant and that they are still legitimate people's representatives.

Meanwhile, the Speaker was supposed come to the Perak Police Contingent Headquarters this morning to have his statement recorded following a report against him for suspending the Menteri Besar and the Executive Councillors from attending state assembly sittings.

He did not show up. Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M. Kulasegaran and lawyer Anthony Augustin were there to say that the Speaker was now on leave outside Perak.

The Speaker had also been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission over the suspension. (AP)