KOTA BARU, 4 March 2009: The Perak state assembly sitting held under a tree yesterday was shameful, and tarnished the country’s image in the eyes of the world, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
The emergency sitting of 27 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state representatives from PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) outside Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan showed foreigners that these leaders did not understand the law, he said.
“Nowhere in this world do people have a sitting under a tree. People are laughing at us, like we don’t understand (laws). They (PR) may not agree (that) they are no longer the government but there are other processes that can be used.
“I am tickled at the same time…want to have power by whatever means. This is not right, you want to have power, you have to follow the law,” Syed Hamid told reporters after a dialogue session with Kelantan Rela members here.
He said such action, according to one’s whim in order to achieve political goals, showed the PR did not care about laws.
“All this happens because there is no obedience of the law…as politicians chosen by the people, we are not above the law. We have to follow laws. Also this case is before the court,” he said.
Police was right
Syed Hamid rejected the view of the Malaysian Bar Council that questioned police action to disallow the state assemblypersons into Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan where the state assembly is housed.
Syed Hamid said the police move was apt.
“If we view it from one angle we may see there has been a mistake but actually the Bar Council should view it legally.
“It had been decided that the Speaker could not have a sitting, so entry into the House is trespassing and as such it is the police’s duty to stop them. The police is not taking sides. Just ensuring that no untoward incident happens,” he said.
Kugan’s death
In another development, Syed Hamid said the Opposition was taking advantage of the death in police detention of suspected luxury car thief, A Kugan, for their political interest.
He said the case had nothing to do with politics and the Opposition should leave the case to the police to investigate and the Attorney-General to prosecute if a crime was committed.
“This case has criminal implications and effects. When an announcement was made by the PKR office, it was as if the party attempted to mix up criminal cases with politics, this case has nothing to do with politics.
“In our country, it is as if people take peace and order lightly.
“Demonstrating here and there, going from being peaceful to being chaotic,” he said.
Syed Hamid also said police personnel would be deployed as needed in the by-elections in Bukit Selambau in Kedah, Bukit Gantang in Perak and Batang Ai in Sarawak. — Bernama
See also:
Perak tree sitting and a Paris tennis court
