Tuesday, March 3, 2009

MP: Speaker can hold sitting anywhere - Malaysian Insider

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 2 – The MP for Ipoh-Barat, M. Kula Segaran, sys that the Perak Assembly Speaker has the right to decide where to hold the emergency meeting tomorrow.

“The place of assembly is up to the speaker to interpret,” Kula Segaran said, quoting from the Perak Assembly Standing Orders Nos. 10, 11, 89 and 90, which describe the sessions of assembly.

“The meetings of the assembly during each session shall be held on such days and place as Mr Speaker shall determine,” Kula Segaran added.

Highlighting the principle behind the separation of powers, Kula Segaran said the courts cannot interfere in the matters of parliament and the state legislative assembly because the two lawmaking bodies act as “courts” themselves.

“That’s why the courts cannot rule over the events in another court at the same time,” he added.

But, Kula Segaran observed, the various events have mired the state in legal technicalities which are taking away the attention from the main issue.

“The bottomline is why they fear to have the meeting?” he questioned.

Kula Segaran also pointed out that the Perak chief police officer (CPO) is not “very knowledgeable” on the laws regarding assemblymen and members of Parliament.

“Section 124 of the Penal Code states that any person who impedes an assemblyman or an MP from carrying out his official duties can be jailed,” the MP said.

He explained that it is very likely that Speaker Sivakumar will still head to the state assembly building tomorrow as planned and try to talk to CPO Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah if he is blocked from entering for the emergency meeting.

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