Perak assembly postponed; Pakatan cries foul

It’s a trick to weaken opposition campaign in Sarawak, says Ngeh.

IPOH: Pakatan Rakyat has accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of manoeuvring to prevent opposition lawmakers from campaigning in Sarawak.

In a surprise move, Perak Speaker R Ganesan has postponed the State Legislative Assembly sitting due today to April 12, four days before the Sarawak state election.

Ngeh Koo Ham, deputy chief of Perak Pakatan, called the postponement “a political plot” to ensure that Pakatan lawmakers in Perak cannot participate fully in the opposition campaign in Sarawak.

Lawmakers must attend the state assembly sitting every six months or risk losing their seats.

“However,” Ngeh said, “we are not discouraged and will take turns to ensure that all Pakatan lawmakers participate both in the assembly sitting and also in the Sarawak campaign.”

Ngeh himself is leaving for Sarawak today and will campaign there for five days.

“We will explain to the people of Sarawak how BN robbed us of our legitimacy to rule Perak,” he said. “We’ll tell them the prime minister has no respect for the people in their choice of government.”

He challenged both Ganesan and Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir to join the BN campaign in Sarawak, but said he believed they did not have “the guts” to do so.

Nga Kor Ming, the state assemblyman for Pantai Remis, said Pakatan would ensure that at least two of the alliance’s members would be in the state assembly at any time during the coming sitting.

He said he would take the night flight to Sarawak on April 12. - FMT