Complete Assault On Parliamentary Democratic System At Perak State Assembly

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File photo: Perak State Assembly buildingThe outgoing Perak Speaker, Ngeh Koo Ham, has called for the Perak menteri besar and his government to be investigated and those involved charged in court

On 12 May 2020 we saw the complete assault on the Malaysian parliamentary democratic system at the Perak State Legislative Assembly by the Perak Perikatan National state government.As the Speaker chairing the assembly, I was completely shocked at how the Perak PN state government under Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu orchestrated a complete assault on the assembly.

Why do I say it is a complete assault against the Perak State Legislative Assembly?

Firstly, the Perak state government [allegedly] secretly invaded the Perak State Assembly and tampered with the microphone system in the assembly until they control the system rather than me. On numerous occasions during the proceedings, when I wanted to use the microphone, the microphone system could not be turned on
The microphone system was supposed to be under the full control of the Speaker of the house and I can override and determine who should be given the right to speak. It was functioning well on Sunday, 10 May, when I tested it but I had no control over it when I chaired the state assembly sitting on 12 May.

Secondly, they brought in about 20 men in black with the intention of forcibly removing me when I was presiding over the state assembly (though I had the intention of resigning after my speech/announcement) and no motion of no confidence to remove me had surfaced as an item on the agenda for the day. These men in black unlawfully trespassed into the state assembly without my knowledge or consent.

Thirdly, I had invited more than 20 media personnel (only one representative per media organisation this time because of Covid-19 as compared to about three or four per media organisation in the past) to cover the state assembly sitting – but the state government refused them entry and allowed only official media to be present
Fourthly, I had instructed live streaming for the whole sitting session (as was the case in the past), but they stopped the live streaming after the royal address of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak so that the public had no access to the proceedings and they had full control over the news that would be released to the public.

Fifthly and lastly, the sergeants-at-arms, who are the state assembly officials to maintain order and security in the state assembly at the Speaker’s behest, were forced to turn against the Speaker and forcibly evict him from the state assembly because they are under the payroll of the state government. The Perak PN state government [allegedly] orchestrated a mutiny within the state assembly!

In short, the Perak state government had [allegedly] planned and acted to take full control of the Perak State Assembly. They wanted to forcibly evict me and, with only the official media in the state assembly, they hoped to produce propaganda news to deceive the public

Fortunately, some of the state elected representatives were quick to record the proceedings with their mobile phone cameras. I forewarn the people that the news or videos that will be produced by the state government will be a doctored or fabricated version of what transpired, and they must not fall for this propaganda. However, they may no longer dare to do this because some of the state elected representatives also have the recordings of the proceedings.

I call on the police to thoroughly investigate this case and charge those who planned this assault and charge them in court. If no action is taken, soon the government will invade Parliament, other state legislative assemblies and the judicial courts.

Malaysia is a civilised nation that believes in the rule of law. For that reason, laws have been enacted to protect the sanctity of the courts, the legislative assemblies and Parliament from the government, which has the police, army, ammunitions and armaments at their disposal. We know all over the world that a country ruled by the barrel of the gun will remain backward and barbaric in its ways, but those that believe in the rule of law have societies that are civic and civilised.

I therefore call on the police to act immediately against those involved and charge them in court so that the rule of law can be upheld.

Tuesday, 12 May 2020 was a shameful day at the Perak State Legislative Assembly!

Dato’ Ngeh Koo Ham, the MP for Beruas, is the outgoing Speaker of the Perak State Assembly - ALIRAN

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