Police escorted Nizar out of Perak MB’s office (Updated 5:30pm)

IPOH, 6 Feb 2009: Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, who was ordered by the Sultan of Perak to step down as menteri besar, was today escorted by police out of the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building, which houses the menteri besar’s office.

The move was taken after Mohamad Nizar and the other Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors refused to give up their posts as ordered by the Sultan and persisted in entering their offices.

Sultan Azlan Shah yesterday decided not to consent to the dissolution of the

Perak legislative assembly as requested by Pakatan Rakyat. He instead ordered Mohamad Nizar to step down after being convinced that the latter had ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the state assembly members.

Earlier today, Mohamad Nizar, who arrived at the building in a state government car, a Toyota Camry bearing the number  AJS10, at 9.45am, had to wait several minutes at the gate before he was allowed into the premises.

Hundreds of media representatives, both local and foreign, who had gathered there as early as 7am, followed his car in, together with the Pakatan Rakyat state executive councillors.

Shocked to find their offices cleared, Mohamad Nizar and his state executive councillors held a news conference to express their dissatisfaction.

“This is ransacking my office. There is no notice of eviction,” he said.

He said he only received a letter from the State Secretary, Datuk Abdul Rahman

Hashim, to return the keys to the office, the official car and others.

Mohamad Nizar insisted that the Pakatan Rakyat government was legitimate and “until there is a vote of no confidence against me, I will not tender my resignation.”

On his defiance of the Sultan’s order, he said that only the wording was in the language of the royal court.

He also said he would not vacate the Menteri Besar’s official residence because he had not received a letter to do so.

However, the news conference was halted when Abdul Rahman and Ipoh OCPD ACP Azisman Alias asked the media representatives to leave the premises.

Mohamad Nizar and his state executive councillors left after spending 45 minutes at the office.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman, was quoted by TV1 as saying that he had asked Mohamad Nizar and the state executive councillors to vacate their offices to protect the official documents, especially confidential documents.

He said his office sent letters to all of them yesterday to hand over the keys to their offices, cabinets and official cars.

The directive was issued in accordance with government regulations observed by all government offices, to protect official government document under such circumstances, he added. — Bernama