Update: Storm brewing at Perak state secretariat building
Written by Sharon Tan & Surin Murugiah
(The Edge) 10.45am: The Ipoh High Court has ruled that the private sector lawyers representing embattled Perak Speaker V Sivakumar have no locus standi to appear for him.
Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim made this ruling in chambers after BN lawyers had argued that as part of the government, the Speaker could only be represented by the state legal advisor.
Lawyer Tommy Thomas, who is part of the team for Sivakumar, said they would await instructions from their client before deciding on their next course of action.
"We have to respect the ruling of the High Court, and as such we are withdrawing from the case now," he said
10.20am: Sivakumar did not get in. The sitting is held at an open car park. All the ADUNS are standing in a circle. Prayers are being said at start of sitting. About 300 people here.
10.05am: The courtroom is packed with journalists covering the current ongoings in Ipoh, as well as litigants for other cases waiting for their matter to be heard.
There atmosphere is one of heightened anticipation as the case surrounds the constitutional crisis that has gripped the state since three Pakatan reps quit the party, paving way for BN to wrestle the state from the opposition.
9.55am: ADUNs left the front of the building and headed towards DAP headquarters across the road. Speaker entered the state secretariat alone.
9.50am: Senior exco Ngeh Koo Ham was seen negotiating with FRU. The other ADUNs are waving their letters to attend the sitting.
Perak ADUNS were waiting to enter the building but were turned away. Photo by Sharon Tan
9.40am: Another scuffle broke out to prevent Nizar and his entourage from moving towards the building. Police stood by to watch and did nothing to control the situation.
9.38am: At the Ipoh High Court, lawyers representing PR, namely Tommy Thomas, Philip Koh, Augustine Anthony, Chan Kok Keong and Leong Cheok Keng have been waiting for the hearing for the originating summons filed by Barisan Nasional (BN) lawyers to obtain declarations against speaker V Sivakumar to commence since before 9am.
Appearing for BN were Datuk Mohd Hafarizam, Badrul Hizam, Ahmad Zamri, Fiazul Hilmy.
The JC asked for a lawyer from each side to meet him in chambers to explain the crux of the application by BN.
A crowd gathers to await the arrival of the Perak Speaker and the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen. Photo by Sharon Tan
Among the declaration being sought by the BN lawyers is that the Speaker had acted unconstitutionally in suspending Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Khalid and his six exco members.
9.35am: Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, other assemblymen arrive at the building.
9.30am: Slight scuffle broke out when a small group of Umno supporters shouted derhaka. PR supporters did not retaliate but was heard not to entertain the provocation. Crowd has swelled to more than 100.
8.50am: The roads in front of the state secretariat building are quiet.
Reporters, pixmen and curious bystanders lined the road shoulders waiting for the arrival of the Speaker and the PR assemblymen.
A few FRU trucks have left the area while one is parked at the entrance building.
7.50am: Roads leading two Perak state secretariat building is slightly congested with police manning at least three checkpoints leading to the building.
A Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck is stationed in front of the Perak state secretariat building. Photo by Sharon Tan.
Dozens of policemen, uniform and plain clothed, stand guard outside the building while traffic police allowed only staff working in the state building to pass through after showing their identification.
Also seen outside the building is three Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) trucks that has been parked there since yesterday.
Speaker V Sivakumar and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen are expected to arrive at about 9am to convene the emergency sitting.
