PUTRAJAYA, 13 March 2009: The Court of Appeal today held that Perak state legislative assembly Speaker V Sivakumar can engage private lawyers to represent him in two civil suits brought by Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and six state executive councillors (exco), and three independent assemblypersons.
Justices Datuk Md Raus Sharif, Datuk Abdul Hamid Embong and Datuk Ahmad Maarop unanimously held that there was no provision in law to say that the Speaker must be represented by Perak legal adviser Datuk Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid.
“A speaker is not a state officer or the government of the state. Sivakumar is at liberty to engage lawyers of his choice,” Raus said in his oral decision allowing Sivakumar’s appeals to set aside the Ipoh High Court’s ruling that only the state legal adviser could represent him.
On 3 and 5 March, judicial commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim refused to allow private attorneys to represent Sivakumar.
Zambry and the six state exco had brought a suit against the Speaker seeking a declaration that the Speaker’s decision in suspending and preventing them from attending the assembly’s sittings was null and void.
The other suit was brought by the three independent lawmakers – Jamaluddin Md Radzi, Capt (R) Mohd Osman Jailu and Hee Yit – who wanted the court to declare that their Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang seats were not vacant and that they are still the legitimate people’s representatives.
This followed the Speaker’s announcement last month that they had vacated the seats after Jamaluddin and Osman quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat and Hee left DAP. — Bernama
Bernard says
Really, did we need the Court of Appeal to tell us that? Anyone who can read could have come to that decision. The judicial commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim should be sent back to law school. But I suggest that he also knew that. But it can be difficult when you are also trying to comply with your political master’s directions.
tengku mohd faizal says
These private lawyers are a waste of time. I believe the speaker is a devout Hindu. He should instead be focusing on “Hasta Rekha Vigyan” for help, since this practice dates back thousands of years ago, with 99.9% success and is more reliable according to most Hindus, rather than to rely on these private lawyers who have perhaps practiced less than maybe 40 years and probably have lesser success rates.