theSun | MONDAY FEBRUARY 23 2009 3

news without borders

PR plans no-confidence
move against Zambry
by Humayun Kabir
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
IPOH: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) plans to table a
motion of no confidence against the Barisan
Nasional (BN) Perak state government
headed by Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry
Abdul Kadir at the next state assembly
meeting.
PR also plans to table a motion to dissolve
the assembly to pave the way for elections
in the state, former PR mentri besar Datuk
Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said
yesterday.
The next meeting is expected to be held
in April, pending consent of the Sultan of
Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah. Based on the
state constitution, the state assembly must
sit within six months of the last sitting
(which was last November).
“We expect chaos on the first day of
the state assembly meeting as the three
assemblymen whose state seats have been
declared vacant by the Speaker, and the
seven BN state executive council members
who were suspended for contempt of the
House, may turn up and cause problems,”
Nizar told reporters yesterday as he moved
out of the mentri besar’s official residence.
Indeed, Zambry had on Saturday said
he will attend the assembly sitting although
Speaker V. Sivakumar had taken action
– which was considered as not following
procedure – in suspending and barring
him and six state executive councillors
from attending the sitting.
The three, who left their parties to
become independents friendly to the BN,
are former PKR assemblymen Mohd Os-
man Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and
Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and
former DAP Jelapang assemblywoman
Hee Yit Foong. Bota assemblyman Datuk
Nasaruddin Hashim, who had earlier de-
fected from Umno to join PR, also rejoined
Umno about the same time.
The seven BN exco members suspended
by the House Rights and Privileges Commit-
tee were Zambry (Pangkor), who has been
suspended for 18 months, and state execu-
tive councillors Hamidah Osman (Sungai
Rapat), Datuk Ramly Zahari (Manong),
Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang), Datuk
Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan), Mohd
Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting) and Zai-
nol Fadzi Paharudin(Sungai Manik), who
were suspended for 12 months.
If the suspension of the seven exco
members is upheld, PR would have 28 seats
compared to BN’s 24 (inclusive of three
independents supporting the coalition). Tunku Ali Redhauddin appointed
Nizar has filed a suit in the Kuala
Lumpur High Court to declare that Zam-
Tunku Besar Seri Menanti
bry’s state government is illegal. The case THE Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku
is due for second mention today. Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir confers the title
Last week, Sivakumar sought Sultan of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti on his eldest son Tunku Ali
Azlan’s consent to convene an emergency Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz.
sitting to dissolve the state assembly but The title of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti was previously
there has been no reply from the palace. held by Tuanku Muhriz prior to his proclamation as the
Yang di-Pertuan Besar on Dec 29 last year.
The title of Tunku Besar Seri Menanti is the most senior

‘Speaker enjoys absolute immunity’ of the Putera Yang Empat (Four Princes). The other three
are the Tunku Laxamana, Tunku Muda Serting and Tunku
Panglima Besar, held respectively by Tunku Naquiyuddin
IPOH: Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Si- not be questioned in any court.” Assembly.” Tuanku Ja’afar, Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar and
vakumar enjoys absolute immunity against Article 72(2) of the Federal Constitution Section 3 of the Legislative Assembly Tunku NadzaruddinTuanku Ja’afar. – Bernama
civil and criminal proceedings in his work as provides that “No person shall be liable to (Privileges) Enactment 1959 provides that
Speaker of the House. any proceedings in any court in respect of “No member shall be liable to any civil or
Commenting on various threats to initiate anything said or any vote given by him when criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment,
criminal investigations or arrest Sivakumar taking part in proceedings of the Legislative or damages by reason of any matter or thing 3,000 cameras to ‘catch’
over the last few days, DAP Taiping MP Nga
Kor Ming said: “The truth of the matter is that
Assembly of any State or of any committee
thereof.”
which he may have brought by petition, bill,
resolution, motion or otherwise, or have said errant motorists
the Speaker is absolutely and totally immune Section 2 of the Legislative Assembly before the Assembly or any committee.” KUALA LUMPUR: After nearly three years of study and fine-
civilly and criminally, for any action carried out (Privileges) Enactment, 1959, provides that “It is within the Speaker’s power to issue tuning, the Automated Enforcement System (AES) is finally to
by him as a Speaker.” “There shall be freedom of speech and debate contempt proceedings to people who are be implemented in the country.
In a statement released yesterday, Nga or proceedings in the Assembly and such defiant of any of his order,” Nga said, adding Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret
said Article 72(1) of the Federal Constitution freedom of speech and debate or proceed- that by lodging police report or instituting Singh said about 3,000 cameras would be installed at various
provides that “the validity of any proceedings ings shall not be liable to be impeached or investigation against him, they were contra- locations in the country adding that the tender for the project
in the Legislative Assembly of any State shall questioned in any court or tribunal out of the vening the laws. has been issued.
Widely used in Australia, United Kingdom and the United
States, the system involves the installation of two types of
cameras – speed camera which would be installed at ac-
Residents petition for Wong to stay on Karpal: More
deterrent
cident-prone areas and the red-light camera at traffic light
junctions where there is rampant jumping of red lights.
Cameras can also be deployed to catch vehicles plying on
by Maria J.Dass penalties needed emergency lanes and overtaking at “double line” spots.
newsdesk@thesundaily.com Working in tandem, signs will be erected to warn road
PETALING JAYA: The courts users they are entering an area dotted with speed traps, thus
PETALING JAYA: Elizabeth Wong’s should invoke section 509 of the cautioning them to observe a certain speed limit.
good track record, her uncompro- Penal Code which provides for Traffic offenders caught speeding will have their summons-
mising stand on environmental imprisonment of up to five years es issued directly to them as the cameras would photograph
conservation, her competence with fine or both upon conviction a speeding vehicle and log its vehicle registration number into
and genuine efforts to help people for invading a woman’s privacy, the Road Transport Department (RTD) and police database.
should count for something, say said DAP chairman Karpal Singh. Under the AES, the cameras monitor every vehicle’s move-
residents’ groups in Bukit Lanjan He was commenting on the ment and record its speed with the information relayed to the
who launched a campaign in sup- emergence of intimate photos two agencies (RTD and police) which would identify speeding
port of the assemblywoman who of Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman vehicles, those beating traffic lights, plying on emergency lane
offered to resign after partially nude Elizabeth Wong and the vulner- and overtaking at the double line.
pictures of her were distributed over ability of anyone to these risks Apart from reducing fatalities due to accidents, as pointed
the Internet. Residents of due to the availability of sophis- out by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, AES would
In a convoy which made its Bandar Utama ticated modern technology. also curb corruption as there is no direct contact between
way through Bandar Utama, Kota during the “The humiliation and trauma the offender and enforcement officers as all information is
Damasara and Bukit Gasing to convoy of Friends suffered by Wong is cruelty of captured on camera.
Bukit Antarabangsa, residents ral- of Eli Wong tour the highest order and no effort He said additionally, road bullies could also be closely
lied support for Wong saying they Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to allow Ivy Josiah, around the Klang should be spared by the police monitored through the AES system.
wanted her to continue to serve the Wong to continue her duties who spoke Valley yesterday. to ensure that the perpetrator However, Ong said the quantum of fines – even with the
constituency as assemblywoman as executive councillor, taking on behalf of does not escape the long arms implementation of AES – would remain the same and the
and as state executive councillor for into account her track record the Joint Action of the law,” he said. only difference is that there will no longer be discretionary
environment, tourism and consumer in protecting the environment, Group for Gender Equality, said: The courts should impose exemption for fines. – Bernama
affairs. promoting public accountability “There are threats that new deterrent sentences on those
“She has been in the frontline and empowering marginalised pictures and videos will be found guilty of invading the pri-
defending green lungs in Selangor groups. exposed... we don’t care, but vacy of women, given the extent
to which modern technology
Sexual harassment law
like Kota Damasara and Bukit Gas- Bukit Lanjan residents also we condemn the perpetrators
ing from irresponsible development initiated a petition to retain because this is a form of violence paves the way for sick minds to KUALA LUMPUR: The government will introduce legislation
projects and has been the staunch- Wong as their assemblywoman against women.” do this and which was unheard to tackle issues relating to sexual violence and harassment
est opponent of hillslope develop- and state executive councillor A close friend of Wong, Tengku of in the old days, he added. against women, including the eradication of sexual harass-
ments. Bukit Antarabangsa folk and will submit it to Khalid’s of- Nazaruddin Tengku Zainudin, Karpal said the punishment ment at the workplace.
will remember her organised and fice on Tuesday to be presented who had been working with the imposed for infringement of Deputy Women, Family and Community Development
coordinated relief work for victims to the Sultan. More than 4,600 economics graduate since her in- privacy under section 14 of the Minister Noriah Kasnon said her ministry was in discussions
of the Dec 6, 2008 landslide while signatures were collected as at volvement in NGOs, broke down Minor Offences Act 1955 is “an in- with the Human Resources Ministry about the proposed
some politicians were competing Sunday. Abdul Khalid is expected when he spoke about her. sult to anyone’s intelligence” as it law on sexual harassment, particularly on the best way to
for photo shoots,” the residents said to meet the Sultan this week. “She is a dedicated worker provides for a fine not exceeding enhance efforts to deal with problems affecting women as
in a statement to the media. Acknowledging that more and will not fail anyone who asks RM100 – a princely sum in 1955 well as the existing guidelines.
They hoped the perpetrator will images and scenes of Wong’s for her help – that much I can tell but far lower in value today. “At present, the Code of Practice on the Prevention and
be penalised for invading her privacy personal life may be released, you about her,” he said. He said the Attorney-General’s Eradication of Sexual Harassment introduced in 1999 is
and private life. Kota Damansara resident Jeffrey The online petition is acces- (AG) chambers should provide for the only guideline used by the government to tackle the
The group also made a plea to Phang said: “We are not disturbed sible at walkwith.elizabethwong. not only a heavy fine but also a problem,” she said when opening a seminar on sexual
Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris by what we have seen and about org or at facebook “walk with deterrent custodial sentence violence and harassment against women at Dewan Bahasa
Shah to advise Mentri Besar Tan Sri what we are about to see.” Eli”. under section 14 of the Act. dan Pustaka yesterday. – Bernama