Sivakumar expected to be replaced as Speaker on May 7 - Sun

By Kong See Hoh

IPOH (April 22, 2009) : The Perak State Assembly is expected to replace its speaker, V. Sivakumar of Pakatan Rakyat (PR), when it sits again on May 7, Nanyang Siang Pau reported today.

The report, quoting sources, said the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, has been invited to address the assembly when it meets for the first time under Barisan Nasional after the February power grab.

It is learnt that the Barisan Nasional assemblymen will table a vote of no-confidence against Sivakumar on the first sitting.

On resumption of the meeting the following day, the assembly will elect a new Speaker to end the two-month-long constitutional crisis in the state.

Sivakumar has been regarded by the BN as the central figure in the crisis and is the only PR representative left in the state government after the power transition.

He has not only recognised the PR Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful Mentri Besar but also banned Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six exco members from the state assembly.

However, the Federal Court has ruled that Sivakumar did not have the power to suspend Zambry and the six BN exco members from attending the State Assembly.

The report said one likely candidate for the the Speaker's post is Kubu Gajah assemblyman Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Omar.

Umno sources said the post was earlier offered to former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali but he declined.

Sources also said Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong, who is now an independent after quitting DAP, and two other assemblymen, Jamaluddin Mat Radzi (Behrang) and Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering), the PKR men who have defected to Umno, will likely be appointed exco members in the BN state government once things settle down.

Hee was the former deputy speaker whereas Jamaluddin and Osman were exco men under PR.