DAP presses on for Perak fresh polls
Written by Regina William, The Edge
The DAP has reiterated its stand that the Perak state legislative assembly has to be dissolved and that fresh elections need to be called for a clear mandate from the people of Perak.
Following the fracas during the sitting yesterday, DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng condemned the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) state government.
“The DAP condemns BN’s shameless and dictatorial takeover of the Perak state assembly yesterday, which resulted in violent acts against the rightful Perak State Assembly Speaker V Sivakumar and the Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen.
“BN’s illegally appointed Speaker Datuk R Ganesan had banned the use of visual recording devices, mobile phones and laptops in the House.
“This is totally in contrast to what is practiced in Parliament where the parliamentarians can now access the Internet via the computers provided by the Dewan. We condemn these double standards as it was reported that Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib (Slim-BN) was seen using his laptop throughout the proceedings,” Lim said in a statement.
He said PR politicians were subjected metal-detector screenings and a body searches.
“This is a clear infringement and a threat to the democratic rights of elected representatives of the people.
“Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming incurred the wrath of the police when he resisted the attempts to a body search,” Lim added.
Lim said that during the search, a police officer alledgedly grabbed Nga’s genitals while, Sivakumar was roughed up and had his robes of office torn off by the police.
To allow the police to control proceedings in the Perak state legislative assembly proves that there is no more democratically elected government in Perak, but that it is a police state, Lim added.
He said the Perak Budget 2010 speech was delivered by BN Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir in less than 20 minutes.
“Very few details were given about the sketchy budget and yet, it was tabled and passed with the support of the BN and independent state assemblymen.
“DAP reiterates its call of an immediate dissolution of the Perak State Assembly and hold fresh elections in Perak to allow the rakyat the right to choose their own government. Only by returning power to the people, then can justice, freedom, truth and democracy be restored in Perak,” he said.
