Nizar recalls chaos at Perak assembly

IPOH: A day after what Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has hailed to be "a dark day in Perak history", former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has similarly expressed disappointment at the chaos that erupted at the state legislative assembly yesterday.

Recounting yesterday's events, Nizar said he was "saddened and disheartened" by the pandemonium that ultimately saw Perak Speaker V Sivakumar being removed from the Speaker's seat at about 3pm, just before the royal officiating speech.

Nizar said Perak State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim attempted to stop Nizar from escorting Perak Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah out of the assembly after the latter's opening address.

Nizar, who is Pasir Panjang assemblyman and Bukit Gantang member of parliament, added he was only able to escort Raja Dr Nazrin Shah out of the Perak Darul Ridzuan building, where the assembly was housed, when the Perak Regent invited Nizar to join him.Photo by Chua Sue-Ann


When Raja Dr Nazrin Shah left the assembly yesterday, Nizar escorted the royal couple while new Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir remained seated.

Nizar said he would seek another audience at the royal household "soon".

Although Perak's Sultan Azlan Shah on Feb 5 declined Nizar's request to dissolve the "deadlocked" Perak state legislative assembly and had ordered Nizar to resign, Nizar had maintained that he was still the legitimate menteri besar of Perak because he did not tender his resignation nor was he removed by a vote of no confidence in the assembly.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court is expected to deliver its ruling on the rightful Perak menteri besar on Monday, in the judicial review brought by Nizar to challenge Zambry's position.

A calm Nizar was seen chatting with supporters at the steps of the mosque, animatedly describing the dramatic scene in which Sivakumar was hauled out of the assembly by plain-clothed officers.

Nizar, who was performing Friday prayers at the Sultan Azlan Shah mosque here, was also surrounded by flocks of well-wishers all wanting to shake hands and pose for photographs with the ousted menteri besar.

When asked if he had received words of support from people, Nizar said, "Everywhere I go, everywhere I pray, (it's like this). I don't know how people look into this."