It's too good to be true!

By chance, I came across this news from Susan Loone.

So, there’s going to be a Hong Kong TV series on how the late Altantuya was killed. The story will be based on French Liberation reporter Arnaud Dubus’ investigations. His search took him to Ulaanbator, to KL and back to Paris, where he implicated a french company in a shaddy submarine deal involving our government. The deal, he implied, was what eventually led to the horrific murder of Altantuya, who turns 31 this May 6.

We bet it would be the TV series of the year!

People are getting more and more creative when it comes to pinning down the suspects on this case.

PKR Youth leader and election candidate for Rembau Chegu Bard said PAKATAN RAKYAT is planning to send Naif Ton Rasa a birthday cake to remind him of Altantuya’s birthday.

Seems apt coz the girl’s life was shorten at 28 in 2006, by forces very much linked to Naif. She would have lived to be a 100, more or less, we do not know, if not for this gruesome murder.

It was understood that Sonija Kwok (first pix top left) will play the role of Altantuya.

Sivakumar, we salute you!

We, the bloggers, and many grateful citizens of this country would like to saluteyou  for your valiant effort in fighting to the last man.  Do not despair, a battle has been lost, but the war will be won come 2013.  You have done us proud!

But we must not also forget these unforgettable scenes which will etched in our memories for a long time to come.

Sivakumar being 'strangled' to remove him from the Speaker's Chair

Sivakumar being forcefully dragged out of the assembly hall

Below is the video of yesterday's fracas ...

Was it worth it after all?

It was definitely heart-breaking to see the way Speaker S Sivakumar being physically dragged out on the floor from the Dewan.  Three questions arised.  Who are these people who dragged him out?  Why do these people take orders from the BN when they refused to take order from Sivakumar to remove the suspended ADUNs earlier in the day, and were all the BN resolutions and Ganesan's appointment as speaker valid since the Regent of Perak has yet to officiate the sitting?  Of course, the icing on the cake was Hii Yit Foong who must have got her own back on her former colleagues from PR.  She wasn't invalid after all when she went up to the Speaker's seat to push Sivakumar away.  What glorious showing of the BN.  In a matter of days, the High Court will decide who is the rightful MB of Perak. If it rules in favour of Nizar, I guess it's payback time.

Hee Yit Fong got the position and attention she craved for today. Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir received the guard-of-honour treatment he desired so much. And Barisan Nasional completed the sordid power grab in the state of Perak, earning the right to titles, perks and position but not what matters most to any government — legitimacy.

The three defectors (two who need some cover from serious corruption charges and one who was unhappy at being treated like a doormat by her comrades in the DAP) can enjoy their new-found status as kingmakers in the assembly.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the BN can at last calm the nerves of members and supporters who were beginning to believe that the coalition had lost its ability to win at any cost.

But at what cost? Was the prize so valuable that it was worthwhile trampling on the image and standing of the country’s important institutions, the Federal Constitution and the sense of right and wrong?

Surely not. Even the most myopic BN supporter has to agree that achieving power through the backdoor has come at a great cost to the judiciary, monarchy and the police, not to mention the new leaders in Putrajaya who have been trying to erase the negativity surrounding Umno with the 1 Malaysia concept.

• Impact on judiciary: It is a sad day that even before a court makes a decision, the public have discounted the impartiality of the panel. But this appears to be the case in Malaysia today. Such is the cynicism and scepticism here today that more attention is paid to the composition of the Federal Court than the legal arguments made in the Palace of Justice.

That is what happens when decisions by illustrious and respected judges on the doctrine of separation of powers is ignored. This is what happens when Article 72 of the Federal Constitution (which puts matters in the legislative assembly beyond the scrutiny of the courts) is treated like a footnote.

• Constitutional monarchy: One single incident has turned one of Malaysia’s most beloved families into villains. Instead of dissolving the assembly at the urging of Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak did the unthinkable — he asked Nizar to resign and installed BN as the new state government. By doing so, he refused to recognise that it is the right of Perakians to decide who represents them. He said recently that the Malay Rulers were above politics. Sadly, many Malaysians do not view the constitutional monarchy as honest brokers today.

• Police: Crime appears to be spiralling out of control in Malaysia, snatch theft victims are dying on the streets and the men in blue seem more interested in enforcing a dress code and arresting social activists and politicians on lame-duck sedition charges. Really, the reputation of the Royal Malaysian Police takes a beating every time they forget that their duty is to serve the Malaysian public. But still they persist in acting in a manner which alienates the same people who are paying their salaries.

So was it worth it? Was taking power through the backdoor worth it? Only Malaysians can provide the answer to that question. They should do so at the ballot box at every opportunity between now and the next general election.

The Perak State Assembly as at 3.20 pm

Reporting from the frontline by NutGraph

*picture on the left shows Speaker Sivakumar being dragged out of the Assembly hall.

3.20pm Raja Nazrin starts speaking. He talks about the economic crisis and the government's economic stimulus package and the mini budget and how these are meant to help the economy. He also talks about how swine flu presents new challenges. Raja Nazrin is talking about the projects that have been implemented in Perak that have benefited the people.

3.15pm Raja Nazrin whispers something to Ngeh Koo Ham and Nizar Jamaluddin after they kiss his hand to greet him. PR Aduns take their seats on the right side of the speaker's chair, while special branch officers leave the chamber.

3.12pm Raja Nazrin enters the House.

3.10pm While waiting for Raja Nazrin to enter, about 20 special branch officers have lined up at the front of the chamber to form a barrier between where Raja Nazrin will sit and the floor of the House.

3.05pm Another adjournment announced to wait for the entry of Raja Nazrin Shah.

3.03pm Ganesan orders Teja and SImpang Pulai Aduns out of the House. Requests the Bentara to remove them. The doa is recited.

3.00pm Zambry moves a motion that the next order of the House is to start with prayers and allow the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin to give his royal address. All the while PR Aduns are thumping their tables. The 28 BN Aduns and three independents vote to approve Zambry's motion while PR Aduns shout "Bubar, bubar!"

2.57pm Ganesan speaks from speaker's chair. He asks police to prevent the Hutan Melintang Adun to stop heckling Zambry.

2.52pm Ganesan takes place at the speaker's chair amidst shouting by PR Aduns. They are shouting that this is a police state.

2.43pm The shouting betwen BN and PR Aduns continues as reps face off with each other around Speaker Sivakumar's chair, now empty.

2.39pm Speaker Sivakumar has been physically removed by the police from his chair. He has been taken out the door.

Earlier, PR Aduns tried to block police from laying their hands on him. Ngeh Koo Ham shouted at the police to get out. The Simpang Pulai Adun has been ordered to leave the House.

[A Note from Geronimo:  This is my last posting for the day.  A summary of today's event will be in my blog tomorrow].

The Perak State Assembly as at 2.43 pm

From the frontline, NutGraph reports.

2.43pm The shouting betwen BN and PR Aduns continues as reps face off with each other around the Speaker Sivakumar's chair, now empty.

2.39pm Speaker Sivakumar has been physically removed by the police from his chair. He has been taken out the door.

Earlier, PR Aduns tried to block police from laying their hands on him. Ngeh Koo Ham shouted at the police to get out. The Simpang Pulai Adun has been ordered to leave the House.

2.35pm A PR Adun was pushed to the floor near the speaker's chair. Special Branch officers are also in the chamber. Everyone has crowded around Speaker Sivakumar's chair.

At the Perak State Assembly as at 2.15 pm

2.15pm: Assembly has resumed. Pakatan reps are trying to physically stop Ganesan from entering the chamber. There is a lot of pushing and shoving among the state reps. A few punches were thrown. A number of reps climb up the table. It is complete pandemonium in the assembly.

A couple of police officers are now inside the assembly to try to restore order. Pakatan reps shout at the police to leave the assembly.

2.30pm PR ADUNs line up in front of Speaker Sivakumar's chair, as if to block him from attempts to remove him physically.

Geronimo's Take:  Couple of issues I would like to bring to my readers' attention.  The first one is, as ridiculous as it seems, we now have 2 MBs and 2 Speakers in the Perak State Assembly.  Some one just passed a joke to me by asking, "Will there be 2 Sultans as well?".

The other one is an irritating issue.  With almost the entire police force away arresting every Tom, Dick and Harry for peaceful gatherings, it is no wonder that the Mat Rempits are having a jolly good time terrorising the public.  I read of a case this morning in the Star paper, where the victim (a female) was accosted by these hoodlums resulting in her falling from her motorbike.  She sustained head injuries and later, passed away.

Oh yes, the police are also now in dress fashion.  They have informed the public that black is not fashionable this week.  Kind of an eye-sore to them. They do not want tourists to have the wrong impression that the nation is in mourning..  Other colours are okay.

Perak State Assembly as at 12.56 pm

From the frontline, NutGraph reports:

12.56pm Ganesan announces that he "adjourns" the House for another hour even though the sitting was not opened and his appointment as the new speaker is questionable. An assembly officer says that Raja Nazrin is still in the building waiting to deliver his royal address.

12.49pm PR ADUNs saying to Ganesan, "Let's go, let's go. Come on." The ruckus now is about getting Ganesan to leave the House.

12.35pm Some PR elected reps have crossed over to BN side (on the left of the speaker's chair) heckling Ganesan to get out of the House Sivakumar from the speaker's chair also asks Ganesan to leave. Among the things said by PR ADUNs to Ganesan are, "Please lah, leave. Salvage MIC."

12.25pm Five PR elected reps heckling Ganesan, making issue of the fact that he is wearing a tag which states "Pegawai". Ganesan is the former Sungkai assemblyperson who was defeated by Nizar in the recent Bukit Gantang by-election. Shouts of "Out! Out!". There is pushing and shoving on the floor between the assemblypersons.

12.24pm Ganesan tries to take his "seat" as speaker at the state secretary's table in the middle of the floor. A few PR elected reps surround him and appear to be persuading him against doing so. Sivakumar is still in the speaker's chair.

12.20pm Sivakumar saying something, but his microphone is still off so he cannot be heard. The BN state assemblypersons are shouting "Out! Out!". Ten more minutes and House is supposed to reconvene.

12.15pm Umno lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun seen conferring with Zambry away from the floor of the chamber.

11.50am Zambry's lawyers in the ongoing MB vs MB court case arrive in the chamber. Among them are Datuk Shafee Abdullah.

At the Perak State Assembly at 11.37 am

From the frontline, as reported by Malaysiakini:

11.37am: A ceasefire seems to be in place. Pakatan reps are still in discussion with Mohammad Nizar while the BN reps are glued to their seats worried that Sivakumar would start the sitting if they leave the House.

11.34am: Sivakumar is questioning the legality of the decisions made by the BN side, including the decision to appoint a new speaker. He said the assembly has not officially begun as the Perak regent has yet to declare the sitting open.

He said Raja Nazrin should deliver his royal speech first before the sitting officially starts.

11.30am: "As long as I am here, the other speaker (Ganesan) is haram," says Sivakumar while attempting to start the assembly sitting. His microphone is still turned off.

At the Perak State Assembly as ast 11.25 am

From the frontline, the NutGraph reports:

11.25am The paper Sivakumar held up earlier was a letter by him dated yesterday, 6 May, stating his rejection of all the motions submitted to him, which are the motions to remove him, to elect a new speaker, and to change the membership of the three committees.

11.15am Sivakumar makes an announcement, holding up a paper but it is unclear what the document is. PR elected reps are re-energised. BN side proposes to adjourn the "sitting" for one hour. The House is "adjourned". BN reps go back to their seats and sit down. PR reps also take their seats and shout at BN to leave the House since they've adjourned it.

There if peace finally in the House but both sides refuse to budge from their seats. Sivakumar still in speaker's chair.

11.05am BN side is now attempting to have a debate. They are proceeding as if the House was normal. The ADUNS are still clustered around BN's Ganesan, who appears to be seated next to Hee on the left side (by convention, the Opposition side) of the speaker's chair. Sivakumar is still in the Speaker's chair. PR elected reps are shouting "Haram! Haram!" to drown out Ganesan's voice who is reading a motion. Shouting continues.

Ganesan has been given the speaker's robes.

He reads out a motion tabled by Sungai Rapat assemblyperson Hamidah Osman which is voted by the BN and the three indenpendents friendly to the BN. The motion is to change the membership of the three house committees -- standing orders, rights and privileges, and public accounts -- to put their own BN people in.

PR elected reps mostly just standing around or seated. Less shouting from them. Sivakumar is still in the speaker's chair.

10.56am State assemblyperson from MIC Datuk R Ganesan is taking his oath of office as the Perak Speaker after the motion was proposed by Zambry and seconded by Hee, and supported by all BN elected representatives and the three independents friendly to the BN. Shouts of protests by Pakatan Rakyat side.

At the Perak State Assembly

From the frontline by NutGraph:

10.56am State assemblyperson from MIC Datuk R Ganesan is taking his oath of office as the Perak Speaker after the motion was proposed by Zambry and seconded by Hee, and supported by all BN elected representatives and the three independents friendly to the BN. Shouts of protests by Pakatan Rakyat side.

10.40am Speaker V Sivakumar's microphone has been turned off. Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong, the DAP assemblyperson who quit the Pakatan Rakyat to become a BN-friendly elected representative, has declared the majority of the House has voted Sivakumar out and he should leave. Hee now asks the Bentara to remove Sivakumar. Tee BN ADUNs are shouting "Tronoh turun! Tronoh turun!" Sivakumar is the Tronoh assemblyperson.

The Perak Saga as at 10.28 am

From the front line, NutGraph reports:

10.28am Speaker V Sivakumar now says, "Saya belum dipecat. Yang dipecat itu Pangkor". Zambry is the assemblyperson for Pangkor.

"Saya minta Bentara untuk keluarkan 10 orang ini," says Sivakumar, referring to the ten BN assemblypersons he has barred from entering the House. Bentara is the House's sargeant-at-arms.

Sivakumar continues: "Dalam Dewan, Speaker bagi arahan. Kalau tak faham arahan, keluar saja."

10.20am BN's appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir reads out a motion to remove Speaker V Sivakumar and all the BN state assemblypersons raise their hands to vote in support. But Sivakumar maintains he will not convene the sitting until the ten BN assemblypersons, including Zambry, leave the House. Sivakumar says he rejects the motion because Zambry has been suspended. Sivakumar repeats, "My decision is final. As long as the ten suspended assemblypersons do not leave the house, I will not convene this sitting." He shouts the same thing over and over again: "The person who brought this motion has been suspended. Ia usul yang tak sah."

10.13am Pandemonium in the Perak assembly chambers. Lots of inaudible shouting. PR state assemblypersons are thumping the tables. BN assemblypersons staying put. Raja Nazrin Shah has yet to give his address to open the sitting. He is not in the House at this juncture.

Geronimo's Take:  I believe Sivakumar has applied a good strategy.  He knows that the suspended BN ADUNs will not leave the hall.  If they do not, then the Speaker at his discretion will not convene the sitting, and if there is no assembly, the resolution to remove him does not matter anymore.  The Speaker will have no choice but to postpone the sxitting  and to convene it at a later date which he will not but to wait out the deadline of  May 13 2009 whcih will then result in a state by-election.  On the other hand, if the Speaker convenes the sitting without the presence of the suspended BN ADUNs, PR will have the majority in the state assembly.  Either way, BN loses.

This morning at the Perak State Assembly

As reported by NutGraph:

 A historic state assembly sitting is about to take place in Perak in an on-going tussle for power between the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Security is tight around the state secretariat building where the state assembly is housed, and roads had been cordoned off since last night.

10.05am Raja Nazrin Shah, who was to open the state assembly sitting, is not in the House yet. Speaker V Sivakumar repeats his announcement that he will not start proceedings until the 10 assemblypersons, including BN's appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, have left the House. His decision is final, he says. Sivakumar adds that the 3 March sitting under the tree had approved their suspensions. Shouting resumes in the House.

10.03am Perak Speaker V Sivakumar announces that BN's appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and the six suspended executive councillors from the BN are not allowed into the House. The three independents "friendly to the BN" are also not allowed in. Sivakumar says he won't start the sitting until all of these assemblypersons leave. Shouting in the House.

9.50am Media queue up to get into the state assembly chambers. A metal detector screens the journalists, the first time ever in the history of the Perak state assembly.

9.33am The Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah has arrived at the state secretariat building to open the state assembly. He inspects the guard.

9.27am BN's appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir arrives. He shakes hands with Speaker V Sivakumar.

9.27am The Edge reports that Speaker V Sivakumar arrived at 9.18am. Earlier DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, and Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M Kulasegaran were turned away from approaching the Perak state secretariat building.

After a heated exchange with Ipoh Police Chief ACP Azisman Alias, and following the arrest of Kulasegaran's aide, the duo are turned away. See more here.

9.00am The arrested, who are inside a police truck, shout, "1BLACKMalaysia!" as the truck is being driven away.

8.55am Police have arrested a total of 11 people. Arrests were also made at the Perak DAP headquarters which is about 100 meters away in a shoplot from the state assembly building, above a coffeeshop. Among those arrested is Jenice Lee, the assemblyperson for Teratai. From inside the police truck, she said, "I was just sitting down in the cofeeshop when they handcuffed me."

8.35am Zuraida Kamaruddin, a fourth person, dressed all in black, has been arrested outside the gate of the state secretariat building. She is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Member of Parliament for Ampang and the Wanita PKR chief. She struggled with the woman police officer, shouting, "Why should you push me. I know how to walk myself."

8.25am PR state assemblypersons have started arriving at the state secretariat building. Among them are embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Datuk Ngeh Khoo Ham, A Sivanesan and Chang Lih Kang.

8.20am Three men in black t-shirts outside the gate of the state secretariat building have been taken in by police (see pix above - courtesy of NutGraph).. One of the t-shirts had emblazoned on it, "Kembalikan hak rakyat".  One of the men said he was from Taiping. The three were holding pictures of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

8.15am Police screening media and state secretariat staff entering the Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan where the state assembly is housed. Only those with passes from the state secretariat are allowed in.

7.40am Traffic gridlock on roads leading to the state assembly in Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan due to police blocks, and diversions. No demonstrators are in sight yet. 

[More to follow]

Could this probably take place on May 7 at the Perak State Assembly

Come May 7, there will be fireworks at the Perak state assembly and all eyes will be on speaker V Sivakumar, who is expected to exercise his wide discretionary powers to frustrate Barisan Nasional’s plans.

Currently, there are already indications that BN’s Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir (right) and his six executive council members would be barred from entering the state assembly.

The seven were suspended from the house by the special privileges committee in February for contempt against the house. The committee’s decision was later adopted during the famous March 3 “tree assembly” and is held by Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers to be binding.

In a statement today, Perak Pakatan legal coordinator Ngeh Khoo Ham said not only was there no court order for the suspension to be revoked, Section 3 of the Legislative Assembly (Privileges) Enactment 1959 also provides the committee and its members legal immunity.

Previously, Zambry’s lawyers have claimed that they have successfully sought a declaration from the Federal Court to lift the suspension order, purportedly made by the speaker, which was said to be unlawful.

What about the sitting arrangements?

However, a chaotic situation might happen if Sivakumar orders for the removal of members from the state assembly and the sergeant-at-arms, a serving police officer, refuses to enforce the order. 

“In this case, the speaker will have to appoint someone else, which can be anyone, to replace the sergeant-at-arms and carry out the order,” opined veteran Selangor lawmaker and current Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim.

Assuming that Zambry and his exco members manages to enter state assembly, they will still have to contend with the sitting arrangements which are expected to be maintained at status quo since the last time a normal sitting was held in November.

“The speaker has no reason to change the sitting arrangement, pending a legal dispute to determine the legitimate menteri besar,” said a source close to Perak Pakatan.

According to Standing Orders 2, the speaker can change sitting arrangements “as he may think fit” and his decision on such matters “shall be final”.

By convention, the government of the day would sit to the right of the speaker and the seat of the menteri besar would be closest to the speaker.

Who will hand over the sultan’s speech?

Other than embarrassment, the net effect of the sitting arrangement may result in Zambry losing his privileges and priorities accorded to the menteri besar in the house.

One such privilege is a special ceremony involving the handing over of the sultan’s speech by the menteri besar.

Since Sivakumar does not recognise Zambry as the menteri besar, the former is expected to call upon ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin to hand the text to the sultan.

“If this happens, the sultan may not read the text and merely officiate the proceedings,” Teng commented.  

Another important aspect to the sitting is the motion by Zambry to appoint a new speaker in the form of MIC’s R Ganesan, the former Sungkai state assemblyperson.

The removal of Sivakumar would finally complete Zambry’s checkmate on Pakatan for total control of the legislative assembly. 

Speaker under round-the-clock protection

According to a April 27 notice issued by state assembly clerk Abdullah Antong Sabri, he had received a motion from Zambry on April 23 to sack the speaker.

It is however inconsequential if state assembly clerk received the motion ahead of the 14-day requirement as it is the speaker who determines if the criteria is fulfilled, said Nga. 

At the time of writing, it cannot be confirmed if Sivakumar had received Zambry’s motion in time.

Even if Zambry did meet the 14-day requirement, Sitiawan state representative Nga Kor Ming said that the standing orders still grants the speaker the right to reject any motions at his discretion.

For now, it would appear that for Zambry to get his way, Sivakumar must not be allowed to sit on the speaker’s chair, at all cost.

It is understood that Sivakumar has been under round-the-clock protection by Pakatan volunteers. [Source: Malaysiakini]

BERSIH - Wear black on May 7

The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections, Bersih, today called on Malaysians to protest the power grab in Perak and put on a show of civil disobedience by wearing black on May 7 in conjunction with the sitting of the state assembly.

In a press conference today, Bersih accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of orchestrating the political coup in Perak and lambasted him for allegedly failing to keep his promise made under his 1Malaysia philosophy which puts people first, saying that putting people first would mean giving the voters of Perak the chance to determine the state government.

Taking a leaf from other civil obedience movements such as those organised by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and even Umno’s “berkabung” movement to oppose the Malayan Union, Wong Chin Huat, a spokesman for Bersih, urged Malaysians who oppose the power grab to “let everyone see a sea of black walking into an office, market, mosque, temple, church, college, park, bus... let us be united in one black colour to show the world that the 1Malaysia under Najib Razak is 1BlackMalaysia living in darkness.”

Bersih also criticised the BN for practising “old politics” and trying to clamp down on media coverage and peaceful gatherings.

The Perak government had initially allowed only selected media to cover the assembly sitting. However, the decision was later reversed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The police have also warned political parties against organising mass gatherings in front of the state secretariat.

Teo Nie Ching, DAP’s federal legislator from Serdang, says that she was queried by the Police Special Branch after she tried to organise a bus to ferry supporters to Ipoh and expressed her disappointment with the Special Branch.

“Why stop us from going to witness the assembly?” she told reporters.

Lim Teck Ghee, who represented the Centre for Policy Initiatives, urged solidarity despite “a propaganda war” to tar dissenting views as unpatriotic and treasonous.

“It is the duty of Malaysians to oppose illegal and unconstitutional acts of power grabbing,” he declared. “We are the patriotic ones.”

Lim was referring to accusations from BN that Nizar was committing treason by going against the Sultan of Perak’s wishes that he resign as mentri besar.

The political crisis in Perak was triggered by the defection of four state representatives from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to BN earlier this year, giving BN an edge in numbers over PR in the state assembly.

The Perak state assembly speaker however, claimed that three of the representatives who defected had resigned but this was disputed by the latter, who got the backing of the Election Commission.

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, who maintains he is the rightful mentri besar, then sought permission from the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the state assembly to pave the way for a state election but his request was rejected and he was told to resign instead.

Nizar refused to resign but at the same time, Zambry was sworn in as the new mentri besar by the Sultan on February 6.

Since then, PR and BN have been locked in a struggle over who is the legitimate government of Perak and whether or not to dissolve the state assembly. [Source: MalaysianInsider]

Let' sing on May 7 2009

Will someone bring an acoustic guitar to Ipoh on May 7 2009, stand on a soapbox and sing this Bob Dylan song, The Times They Are A-Changin'.



Sing to the following lyrics because they are so relevant to the situation that Nizar and his comrades are facing today. This is for you, Zambry. Take heed of the prophecy of this song.

Come gather 'round people wherever you roam
And admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone,
For the times, they are a chang - in'

Come writers and critics who prophecies with your pen
And keep your eyes wide the chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon for the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who that it's namin'
For the loser now will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'

Come senators, congressmen please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway, don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside and it's ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'

Come mothers and fathers throughout the land
And don't criticize what you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one if you can't lend a hand
For the times they are a-changin'

The line it is drawn the curse it is cast
The slow one now will later be fast
As the present now will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin'
And the first one now will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'