Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng in Georgetown on Thursday, 29^th October 2009: 

Dissolve the Perak State Assembly for a clear mandate from the people 

DAP condemns BN’s shameless and dictatorial take over of the Perak State Assembly yesterday which resulted in violent acts against the rightful Perak State Assembly Speaker Sivakumar and PR ADUNs.

The Barisan Nasional illegally appointed Speaker, Datuk R. Ganesan had banned the use of visual recording devices, mobile phones and laptops in the House. This is totally in contrast of what is practised at Parliament where the parliamentarians can now access the Internet via the computers provided by the Dewan. We condemn these double standards as it was reported that Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib (Slim-BN) was seen typing at his laptop throughout the proceedings.

All the Pakatan politicians were subjected to undergo metal detection screening and frisking. This is a clear infringement and a threat to the democratic rights of our elected representatives of the people. Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming received the wrath of the police when he resisted the attempts to a bodily search. During the body search, a police officer had grabbed his private parts. The rightful Perak Speaker, Sivakumar was roughed up while the police were tearing off his robe.

To allow the police to conduct proceedings in the Perak State Assembly proves that there is no more democratically elected government in Perak but that it is a police state.

The Perak Budget 2010 speech was delivered by Datuk Zambry in less than 20 minutes. Very little details very given to the sketchy budget and yet, it was tabled and passed with the support of the BN and Independent State Assemblymen.

DAP reiterates its call of an immediate dissolution of the Perak State Assembly and hold fresh elections in Perak to allow the rakyat the right to choose their own government. Only by returning power to the people, then can justice, freedom, truth and democracy be restored in Perak.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General & Penang Chief Minister; Member of Parliament for Bagan