Martin Jalleh wonders aloud if the Speaker’s decision is based on parliamentary maturity or political expediency. Continue reading »
Oct 242012
Dec 162010
Malaysians today witnessed another sordid attempt to make a mockery of the parliamentary system as four opposition MPs were suspended in highly undemocratic circumstances, writes P Ramakrishnan. Continue reading »
Jul 022009
Anil Netto looks at something that has not been discussed much: the mainstream media’s role in legitimising the Perak power grab in the state executive as well as the legislature.
May 112009
Congratulations are due to the High Court and Chief Minister Nizar (and not to mention Speaker Sivakumar, whose coolness under pressure will earn him a cameo appearance in the nation’s history books for sure), but let us return to the original demand that was articulated three months ago: Let the People of Perak decide once and for all, decisively – for it is they and only they who can resolve this crisis with any popular legitimacy, says Farish Noor. Let the people of Perak decide, call for state elections now!
May 072009
Chaos has descended upon Ipoh and the rule of law has been savaged by the brutish behaviour of Perak Umno State Assembly members. What we have witnessed today will condemn us for ever for reducing a much respected institution into the law of the jungle. Decorum was not observed and the rule of law was totally discarded.
Mar 252009
Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim did the right thing in withdrawing himself from hearing the two cases against Perak Speaker V Sivakumar. It is the only decent thing to do after the ridiculous decisions he had made in these cases which denied the Speaker the choice of lawyers and his own right to defend himself. His position has become untenable.
Mar 132009
It was another day of absurdity in the annals of the judiciary when Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim incomprehensibly ruled on 11 March 2009 to deny the Speaker of the Perak State Assembly his right of defence. His ridiculous decision has given the judiciary a bad name tarnishing its reputation and ruining its image.
Mar 062009
Minister in the PM’s Department Nazri Abd Aziz has labelled Perak State Assembly Speaker V Sivakumar a “boy speaker”. He says the Speaker “does not know what he is doing. He is not fit to be given such a heavy responsibility.” Alas, who has been acting like a boy? Of course, the small boy in the PM’s department, writes Martin Jalleh.
Mar 032009
Lawyer Tommy Thomas reports on what happened in the High Court judge’s chambers this morning in Ipoh. He also provides an opinion on whether the Speaker could legally hold a sitting of the state assembly.
Feb 032009
The Election Commission has no inherent powers to decide whether a vacancy has occurred in a constituency. It has no discretionary authority to override the notification of the Speaker of the Perak State Assembly declaring that the state seats of Changkat Jering and Behrang have fallen vacant following the resignations of the incumbents of these seats.