Nizar, Sivakumar to go on 3-day hunger strike

(The Star) – Former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar will lead a hunger strike calling for the dissolution of the state assembly.

Revealing this, Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming said the two men would join Pakatan Rakyat supporters in the hunger strike to be launched on Tuesday at Wisma DAP here.

The strike was meant to last at least three days, but those who were willing to continue could do so, said Nga.

The peaceful campaign, he said, was meant to send a serious message asking that the people be given the right to choose their leaders.

"A democratic government must receive the mandate from the rakyat. The people do not want a government to be dictated by a judge only," he told a press conference at Wisma DAP Saturday.

Nga argued that the state Barisan Nasional government had no moral basis to administer the state as it was relying on three state assemblymen who had supposedly "betrayed" the will of the people.

He invited the public to turn up for the three-day event, even for those not fasting, as it would include talks and a signature campaign.

Nga said among the DAP, PAS and PKR leaders joining in the hunger strike were himself, Pasir Pinji assemblyman Thomas Su, Titi Serong assemblyman Dr Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah and Simpang Pulai assemblyman Chan Ming Kai.

"The public is urged to wear black as a sign of protest against the undemocratic power grab by Barisan," he said.

Participants must first sign a pledge with guidelines stating that one could take part after checking with one's doctor, with a liquid break to be taken every six hours.

The guidelines added that one could fast according to their faith, such as Muslims could fast from sunrise to sunset.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran called for the setting up of a constitutional court to specifically deal with constitutional and political crisis, such as in India and Thailand.