Ngeh and opposition lawmakers stave off men-in-black

PERAK DUN | A fierce shouting match erupted in the Perak state assembly today when Perikatan Nasional tried to remove legislative assembly speaker Ngeh Khoo Ham.

Immediately after Ngeh (photo) reconvenes the session after the departure of the Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah, PN lawmakers moved to have Ngeh removed.

However, Ngeh, argued that he was in charge and urged the PN lawmakers to be patient as he would be making an address.

Soon, seven unidentified men in black suits or jackets began to converge on Ngeh from both sides and the sergeant-at-arms were seen talking to Ngeh.

Ngeh told off the sergeant-at-arms and explained his intentions to step down. The sergeant-at-arms is only supposed to take instructions from the speaker, not the executive.

"Sargent-at-arms. Listen to my instructions. There was no vote. There was no decision. I have a right to step down (properly)," he said.

Following this, Pasir Pinji assemblyperson Howard Lee urged the men-in-black to back off and urged them not to repeat the events of 2009.

Lee was referring to the incident on May 7, 2009, where the sergeant-at-arms and several others dragged V Sivakumar out of speaker's seat.

Surprisingly, backbencher and Pangkor assemblyperson Zambry Abd Kadir also urged the men-in-black to desist.

The squabbling continued for a few minutes until Ngeh gave his assurance that he was not up to any devious plots and would step down as promised.

Following this, Simpang Pulai lawmaker Tan Kar Hing (below) then asked Ngeh if he had ordered "so many sergeants-at-arms", in reference to the men-in-black, to appear in the legislative assembly.

"Who ordered you to do this? This is criminal intimidation," said Ngeh, who also threatened to lodge a police report.

It was only at this moment the mysterious men-in-black left the chambers and the sergeant-at-arms took his seat.

The sitting eventually continued with Ngeh delivering a long speech on the rule of law and good governance before stepping down as promised.

Although he tried to adjourn the sitting, Menteri Besar Faizal Azumu proceeded with a motion to appoint Sungai Manik assemblyperson Zainol Fadzi Paharudin as the temporary speaker.

When met later at the main gate of the state assembly building, Ngeh told the media that the men dressed in black had been ordered to drag him away from his chair if need be.

"They didn't touch me, but they were nat my sides ... It was almost a repeat of 2009 Perak crisis (when the then speaker was dragged out from the House)," he said.

Ngeh said this showed that the PN government saw the state legislative branch as part of the executive where the ruling government could remove a speaker anytime it liked.

"They can even get a gangster to come in and forcefully move out a speaker," he said, adding that, fortunately, PN Pangkor state assemblyperson Zambry Abdul Kadir stopped the men from resorting to violence.

Ngeh said he would lodge a police report in order to uphold the dignity of the House.

He also pointed out that the state executive was in control of the legislative branch, citing many instances he could not use his microphone to speak when he chaired the sitting earlier.

He, however, said he would not blame the secretary of the House as the state government was paying the salary of the staff who worked at the legislative assembly.

Ngeh called for reform so that the legislative branch would be allowed to hire its own staff.  - Mkini