Media Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham for and on behalf of Perak Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives in Ipoh on Friday, 9^th July 2010:

Perak Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives looking forward to an incident free State Assembly on 3rd August 2010

The Secretary the State Assembly, Encik Rumaizi Bin Baharin @ Md Daud has called for State Assembly to sit on 3/8/2010.

The Perak Pakatan Rakyat Assemblymen and Assembly women met last night and have expressed the hope that this coming State Assembly sitting will be incident free. We hope that for the sake of the people of Perak, the BN Perak Government will act responsibly by answering questions raised by the elected representatives and allowed debates to be conducted in free and conducive environment.

We call on the Perak BN Government to cease the following which have occurred in the past State Assembly sittings:-

1. Allowing the police to surround and invade the State Assembly creating a climate of fear and intimidation.

2. Refusing to answer the questions raised by the elected representatives base on a flimsy reason that it was forwarded to the Assembly secretariat by V. Sivakumar, the PR recognized legitimate speaker. Nowhere under the rules is this prohibited. Questions can be forwarded through email, courier, pos laju, normal mail, an office boy or any other person. Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives are willing to forward their questions directly to the State Assembly Secretariat this time round just to avoid the people's questions go unanswered.

3. The microphones of the Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives were switch off to prevent them from debating or asking questions.

4. Doors to the State Assembly were locked to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives use only the route designated which is controlled and under the strict surveillance of the police.

5. Only BN controlled media are allowed into the State Assembly while other media are locked in a room where the audio sound cannot be heard except for selected messages that the BN Government wants them to hear.

The above said incidences have make a mockery of the democracy in Perak. Perak Pakatan Rakyat had hoped that fresh election can be called to restore full democracy in Perak but BN has refused to do so. Until then, for the sake of the people of Perak, Pakatan Rakyat elected representative will continue to bring up the issues affecting the people by asking questions and debating on the issues affecting them.

The question of who is the legitimate speaker is a legal one. Pakatan Rakyat is of the view that from whatever angle, Dato' Ganesan cannot be a legitimate speaker and Mr. V. Sivakumar is still the lawful and legitimate speaker.

In order that this coming State Assembly sitting will go on smoothly without its legitimacy being questioned, Mr V. Sivakumar will also issue a notice for the State Assembly to sit on 3/8/2010. Again, in order that this coming sitting will proceed smoothly and for the sake of the people of Perak. Mr V. Sivakumar and the other Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives have also agreed to allow Dato' Ganesan to chair the meeting albeit not as a speaker (as his legitimacy can only decided by law) so that this session can be conducted in an orderly manner and free of any untoward incidence.

We hope the Perak BN Government will respond positively for the sake of the people of Perak.

* Ngeh Koo Ham, DAP Deputy Secretary General & MP for Beruas