Bersih to ‘name and shame’ candidates

K Pragalath

 | March 23, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: Election reform watchdog Bersih today announced that it would “name and shame” politicians and election candidates who do not support its campaign against political violence.

“We’ll name and shame them. Silence is not an option. Vote against the MPs who encourage political violence and those who are silent about it.

“We will tell the public not to vote for them,” Bersih co-chairman, S Ambiga, said at the launching of Bersih’s “Reject political violence” campaign today.

The campaign kicked off with Bersih co-chairman A Samad Said sending SMSes to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (PAS), Batu MP Tian Chua (PKR), Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang.

Besides the SMS, Bersih hopes to use the social media and by word of mouth to spread the message.

Ambiga also said that Bersih would accept any invitation to any political ceramah and also to speak up against political violence.

She listed nine instances of political violence that have occurred since January this year.

The election reform watchdog also announced that it would be releasing a code of conduct for candidates and rules of a caretaker government next week.

On another issue, Ambiga criticised Election Commission deputy chairman, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, for saying that the election would take place before the conclusion of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Sabah, and that the EC was powerless to act as the RCI has not ended.

He is also reported to have said that the EC could not do anything about the irregularities in the Sabah electoral list even though many immigrants have received identification cards.

Ambiga said that based on the Likas case in 1999, the EC is duty-bound to conduct a public inquiry on the matter.

(In that case, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the electoral roll for the Likas constituency was illegal and accordingly declared the polls null and void. As a result, former Sabah chief Minister Yong Teck Lee had to vacate the seat. But despite the ruling, the EC did not act to clean up the roll.)

“I do not accept what the deputy chairman of EC is saying. It is unacceptable that the EC can’t do anything until the RCI is over. The EC’s failure to maintain a [clean] electoral roll makes the electoral roll illegal,” she said.

Ambiga also condemned the violence against blogger Papagomo yesterday.

“We condemn any form of violence as we condemn his [Papagomo's] type of politics,” she said.

The blogger, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, was beaten up by two unknown assailants and sustained minor head injuries yesterday afternoon.

He is known for publishing anti-Anwar Ibrahim materials on his blog. Anwar, who is PKR adviser and Permatang Pauh MP, filed a RM 100 million defamation suit against Papagomo on Thursday.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/03/23/bersih-to-name-and-shame-candidates/

Pakatan Rakyat Convention - 10 resolutions

Pakatan Rakyat Convention - 10 resolutions

You won't get this in the newspapers

The Pakatan Rakyat convention in Penang sent an unmistakable and chilling signal to arch rivals - Prime Minister Najib Razak and the Umno-BN coalition. Despite a roller coaster journey since sweeping to power in the 2008 general election, Pakatan has not been diminished by the enmity and malice unleashed by its political opponents, but has been able to mature and grow stronger in the process.

Indeed, the star-studded conference hall was packed with the likes of PAS president Hadi Awang, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, PKR president Wan Azizah, Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh.

Pakatan delegates and other members of the public who wanted to meet their 'reformasi' heroes were spoiled for choice. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also Penang Chief Minister, played host to the 2,000-strong
Crowd at the convention.

Racial policies rejected, preliminary 10-point manifesto unveiled.

In a rousing opening address, Guan Eng warned Prime Minister Najib Razak's Umno party not to 'hijack' the federal constitution and misinterpret the controversial Article 153 to divide the ethnic groups in the country.

"Somehow Umno always fails to mention that Article 153 also states that the legitimate interests of other communities must also be protected, Guan Eng said.

Guan Eng also unveiled a ten-point document to be signed by all the top Pakatan leaders and which is set to become the coalition's preliminary manifesto in the coming general election. The resolutions outline in detail the changes Pakatan will introduce within the first 100 days of its taking over Putrajaya if it wins the next general election expected to be held early next year.

The resolutions are:

1. A restructure of institutions including the Elections Commission (EC), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Royal Malaysian Police. During a debate on the policy framework, DAP's Anthony Loke requested PR bring the MACC under the purview of Parliament.

2. A repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA)

3. Instruct Khazanah Berhad, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and other government bodies to take over highway assets from the concessionaires in order to abolish the toll system.

4. A restructure of the country's subsidies, to lessen subsidies given to the private sector (such as the RM19 billion in gas subsidies given to independent power producers) and transferring these to subsidies for the
Man on the street.

5. Acknowledging the role and sacrifices of civil servants by studying the current pay schemes and increasing the incentives for teachers by RM500 a month

6. Transferring private water concessions to the government

7. Offering free wireless Internet access to those in urban and semi-urban
Areas

8. Cancelling Felda Plantations and opening up its farms to second- and third generation Felda settlers.

9. Increasing oil royalty payments to Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan to 20 per cent from 5 per cent currently.
10. Formation of a Royal Commission to solve the problem of illegal immigrants and citizenship issues in Sabah and Sarawak .

? May I add No. ? 11. To abolish the RM50 govt. Tax on the use of credit card. This tax is absolutely nonsense and unnecessary. We use credit card so as not to carry large amount of cash for our own safety. Now, by imposing this tax, the government is forcing us to carry large amount of cash thereby endangering our lives.? ?

Muslims Can No Longer Eat In Indian Restaurants

Muslims Can No Longer Eat In Indian Restaurants

1) How very sad! Are the JAWI officers being overzealous or is this another change in policy?

2) Will this also apply to the Hindu barber shops including the one in Lake Club where our previous PM’s, Dr.M & Pah Lah used to frequent? The Hindu Indians, who run the banana leave shops/barber shops, etc, are not going to be happy about it. Will our PM have the courage to step in, in line with our 1Malaysia?


http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/06/27/tolerance-my-ass/#more-353


Couldnt help feeling this angry today. I know at my age, I am supposed to be mellowing out, looking forward to a nice chilled day and now what? I find myself with the same amount of righteous anger as I had when I was 16 - going through puberty and finding the world most unfair that my mum wouldnt allow me to have my first pair of cargo pants!


I was sitting in the banana leaf shop this morning having a roti and a coffee when a group of JAWI officers entered the premises. 10 officers to be exact, into this little shop. They spent a good 20 minutes going through the place (and it is a small place!) and finally one officer writes out a writ and gives it to the cashier. They then left.

Curious, I asked the cashier what that was all about and he replied that they were not allowed to have their little altars and pictures of their deities in their shop "because otherwise, Muslims cannot come into their shops" . What utter nonsense!

Are we still living in the Malaysia that is so "famed" for its "religious tolerance"? The shop is not a mamak shop. It is an Indian Banana leaf shop. Why would it be surprising that they should have signs of their religious beliefs in their own space? I didnt think that sort of thing was illegal (please correct me if I am wrong). What is wrong with this picture? Will it come down to the point when my Muslim friends should not visit my home just because I have a cross or a chinese altar there? PLEASE!



Better yet, I discovered as I was leaving , that the JAWI personnel had targetted the other 3 banana leaf shops along that row of old shops (near the vets office - off Jalan Maarof). There were at least 4 nos of vans for the officers , ALL double parked on the main road and causing an inconvenience to the other road users. Is there a separate set of laws that govern these people? Notwithstanding the fact that they are trampling all over the definition of religious tolerance in this country , they also flaunt the general laws of the land. This makes me really angry and sad about the state of our country.



I now find it difficult to speak up for Malaysia when there are arguments comparing Malaysia to other countries. It is sad that we can have the once world tallest building and still think like we came out of the jungle yesterday.

Nizar Menghasut ,Fitnah & Membakar Sentimen Perkauman

Lim Kit Siang should apologise to the nation on what his party had done all these years and start embracing 1Malaysia once and for all
Posted on October 1, 2010 by jebatmustdie
The unDemocratic Action Party’s dictator since 1969, Lim Kit Siang, had become more desperate than I could imagine. The party which had never changed their leader since 41 years ago has a leader who is increasingly being exposed as a racist and a hate-monger.

When Tun Mahathir Mohamed told his audience that some chinese had claimed that BN had toppled the chinese government in Perak, Lim Kit Siang went out with guns blazing claiming that Tun Mahathir is the number one racist in the country.

The fact, is, that was what has been relayed to Tun Mahathir through meetings with people from all walks of life. Tun feels that this is the cause that the chinese does not support the BN – because a chinese government was brought down by the BN. We all know that Tun did not approve of the way the matter was handled back in early 2009.

So what did Tun actually said that had made Lim Kit Siang frothing in the mouth? Tun merely said:

“We see Nizar in Perak…even though he was Mentri Besar, he followed the instructions of DAP until he fell. The Chinese claim this was BN’s move to bring down a Chinese government.

“So they called it a Chinese administration and is it not possible that we can have a prime minister like Nizar, Malay in name and a Muslim but not really independent and a tool of others,” he said.

So there, it is the chinese that said BN toppled a chinese government of Perak.

That was the sentiment Tun gets from the people that he had met. Is this not true? Care to find enough people to say it otherwise?

Therefore, if Tun was merely relaying what the chinese had told him, then the number one racist in this country is certainly not Tun himself. Then who is?

Lim Kit Siang however, countered the exposure that DAP is really a chinese-centric party by telling the crowd:

“What Chinese government? The Perak government by PR was a Malaysian government. This is very sad. Dr Mahathir just wants to tell the Malays that if Umno loses the elections, the Malays will lose power.”

Well then, if Perak government under Pakatan Rakyat was a Malaysian government, then why did the chinese there felt that a ‘chinese’ government had been thrown out? Don’t ask Tun Mahathir, he was just saying what the chinese told him!

To cover up this obvious fact, Lim Kit Siang HAD TO counter this by saying it is Malaysian government.

There is no other way.

Racism is so deep rooted in Pakatan Rakyat that even the former menteri besar is guilty of creating hostility between the Malays and the chinese. Nizar Jamaluddin should be stripped of his title but then again, no action is being done towards him because just like Namewee, only the federal government can be racist.

The opposition are ‘victims’ of racism as always.

Lets look at what Nizar had said in one of his speeches in front of the chinese crowd:




Nizar Menghasut ,Fitnah & Membakar Sentimen Perkauman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Jg7Xm1C6I&feature=player_embedded


Listen to what he said.

He actually told the chinese that back in 1987, Najib had urged the Malays to bathe the keris with chinese blood. Nizar then said that Najib wanted the Malays to flood the streets of Kuala Lumpur with chinese blood.

(By the way, I would really like to know what he had actually said from the 2oth second to 26th second in that video. Any of my readers here care to translate? Thank you.)

We all know that is not true and Najib had denied ever saying that. Nobody had shown proof or even heard Najib said that.

Therefore, Nizar Jamaluddin had been seditious and played up racial sentiment to aggravate the chinese into hating Najib and hating Umno directly.

And by saying all those vile words, we the Malays are upset with Nizar and Pakatan Rakyat where time and time again they had tried to anger the chinese that way. We certainly do not want our neighbours to feel insulted because if the chinese cannot meet Najib face to face to show their anger, they will certainly show their resentment towards any Malays they meet. Hence, subconsciously, the feeling of disdain and anger is created between races.

Why did Nizar and DAP want to play with fire with regards to racial politics?

When one disrespect the Malays this way, there will be a reaction.

Nizar created lies so that people will hate the government. The main beneficiary of this anger is the Malays. Nizar lied to the crowd! And he is none other, an ISLAMIC leader of PAS! I am not even sure whether his heart is with PAS. He looks more like a DAP mongrel. Confused on what his principles should be. Well, maybe Tun was right. He is just a tool for the DAP.

As the result of Nizar’s stupidity and power hungry tendencies, the Malays suffered indignity.

This is the same sentiments the Malays are facing prior to the 1969 racial riots.

The Malays, who are innocently caught between greedy and racist politicians of the opposition parties, became the victims of massive humiliation to their racial pride.

Back in 1969, people similar to Nizar Jamaluddin and Lim Kit Siang incitedlies and hate among the non Malays which culminated to the extreme uncivilised rudeness we now know as the ‘victory parade’ of the chinese opposition a day before 13th May 1969.

Up to this day, Lim Kit Siang had never apologised on behalf of his DAP supporters who took part in the victory procession.

In the propaganda book that Dr Kua Kia Soong had wrote, his entire ‘research’ only mentioned victory procession in about two sentences. That is how he covered up DAP’s hand in inciting the racial riots.

I had dissected his book an uncovered his lies when I wrote the ‘True and Fair View of the 1969 Racial Riots’.

Lim Kit Siang had not apologised to the nation for what his party had done. 41 years ago. The couple of pictures below can testify to the violent racial insults committed by DAP back then.

And do all of you know what kind of insults DAP supporters had thrown to the Malays? Apart from showing their private parts to the Malay crowd during the procession, they had, among others, screamed:

“Melayu balik kampung!”

“Melayu sekarang sudah tiada kuasa lagi”


“Melayu keluar – apalagi duduk sini?”

“Kita hentam lu; sekarang kita besar”

“Melayu kita kasi habis”

All the above are the printable ones here. There are many other documented insults which are more hurtful and malicious than the above. Profanities were hurled non-stop to every Malay in sight. Please read the link I provided above.

This was the situation back then.

Very similar to the crassness that is being shown by the DAP leaders and their goons in their political speeches.

Lim Kit Siang is being a racist because this is the only politics that he knows. If a person other than him incite the people the same way like this in Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew would have thrown him into jail indefinitely.

In order to sugarcoat his approach, Lim Kit Siang attacked Tun Mahathir with the only weapon that he knows – call other people as racist.

Rational people will be the judge of all the opposition’s ploy in seizing power. Unfortunately for us Malaysians, political leaders such as Nizar Jamaluddin and Lim Kit Siang could only muster this sinful racist approach in order to show people that they are better leaders.

A mature opposition would actually show the people that they are the better alternate to the government. But what he have here are hateful leaders inciting hate among the races. It is very unfortunate indeed.

What can Lim Kit Siang show us when everything that came out from his mouth is to demand this and that or accuse other people of racism when in actual fact, Lim Kit Siang is the father of all racism.

Bear in mind, before DAP, Labour Party and Malayan Communist Party existed, there was no racial tension in this country.

There is no point on asking people to apologise for apparent racial slurs when he himself is the leader of a bunch of people who instigate racial disharmony most of the time. This is why he is now seemed desperate. Hate-mongers will be paranoid all the time.

http://jebatmustdie.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/lim-kit-siang-should-apologise-to-the-nation-on-what-his-party-had-done-all-these-years-and-start-embracing-1malaysia-once-and-for-all/

Will this book be Banned?

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should set up a royal commission of inquiry to determine if his mentor Dr Mahathir Mohamad had 'burned' RM100 billion on grandiose projects and corruption during his 22-year reign.

In making this call, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang termed it as an issue of pressing national interest and importance.
Furthermore, he said the move will also reflect on Najib's commitment to 'combating corruption' in his Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

"Will any cabinet minister dare step forward to support such a royal commission of inquiry?" he asked in a statement.

The veteran politician was commenting on the book penned by former Asian Wall Street Journal managing editor Barry Wain, entitled 'Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times'. Lim said Mahathir should declare whether he would co-operate with such a commission of inquiry to prove that Wain is wrong in blaming him for the legacy of "wasting or burning up" RM100 billion in his long tenure as the fourth prime minister, which works up to an average of RM5 billion a year.

Will the book be banned?

The opposition veteran also asked why the government has been holding up 800 copies of the book for more than three weeks.

"There can be no doubt that Mahathir and Najib would have already read the biography. "Is either of them objecting to the release of the biography and want it banned like Mahathir's 'Malay Dilemma' when it was first published in 1970? This would be the irony of ironies," he said.
Lim noted that in this Internet era, which is very different from four decades ago in 1970, any ban or censorship of Wain's new biography will make it even more popular among Malaysians.
He also pressed Mahathir to reveal his thoughts on the matter.

"What is Mahathir's stand on whether Wain's new biography on him should be released to the Malaysian public without any more obstacles from the authorities in Malaysia ?
"If Mahathir thinks that he has been defamed or maligned by Wain in the new biography, he should avail himself of the legal process to clear his name and reputation and not to support any ban or censorship of the book."

In his book, Wain wrote that the Mahathir administration, which took office in 1981 with the slogan, 'clean, efficient, trustworthy', was almost immediately embroiled in financial scandals that "exploded with startling regularity".

By the early 1990s, he said, cynics remarked that it had been "a good decade for bad behaviour, or a bad decade for good behaviour".

Battleground Ipoh: Yet another scuffle in the august House

Perak state secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim (third from left) being told by Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen not to interfere in the state assembly sitting. - 7 May, 2009

Battleground Ipoh: Yet another scuffle in the august House.

Thursday, 07 May 2009 01:13pm

2:15pm Barisan and Pakatan reps get into a shouting and shoving match around “new” Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan. Barisan reps try to pull their man away, but several Pakatan reps are shoving their way through, shouting “Bubar ADUN” (“Dissolve the Assembly”) and “You are not my Speaker!”

The State Secretary, ousted mentri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and the Barisan-appointed executive councillors are standing outside the fray.

2:05pm MIKE WRESTLING MATCH ON!! “New” Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan re-enters the hall to resume his place in anticipation of the opening address by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah.

Another brief scuffle ensues as Pakatan reps try to get Ganesan to leave. DAP’s Thomas Su tries to grab the microphone from Ganesan, forcing Barisan reps form a protective ring around Ganesan, who is seated on the “Barisan side” of the hall.

Some shouting and pushing goes on as Pakatan reps try to shout down Ganesan.

2:00pm A small group of people have gathered outside the Federal Reserve Unit base in Ipoh where more than 30 of the 64 people arrested this morning are being kept.

Supporters are encouraging motorists to honk their horns as a show of protest against the arrests. It’s mighty noisy in “sleepy old” Ipoh town.

12:58pm “New” Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan attempts to reconvene the sitting, but is shouted out by Pakatan reps.

Exco Hamidah Osman proposes the House adjourns for another hour, to shouts of "Ular, ular!" (snake, snake) from Pakatan reps.

The motion is seconded and Ganesan announces that the House will adjourn for an hour. Again, nobody leaves the hall.

The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, has yet to deliver his opening address.

12:50pm Royal address by the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, is delayed once again.

Barisan and Pakatan reps are seen chatting with each other in the middle of the hall.

“Former” Speaker V. Sivakumar remains rooted to the Speaker’s chair.

12:45pm Perak Umno Youth lawyer Saiful Adli Mohd Arshad says he had lodged a police report at the Ipoh district police station at 11:30am against “former” Speaker V. Sivakumar for asking Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, six executive councillors and three Barisan-friendly independent assemblymen to leave the hall.

Saiful Adli alleges that Sivakumar’s instructions were in contempt of a Federal Court order that had declared his suspension of Dr Zambry and the six excos as invalid.

In his police report, Saiful Adli named his source of information as being The Star SMS News Alert.

12:20pm Pakatan reps engage in some good-natured ribbing with “new” Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan in the middle of the hall. A few Barisan reps move to “defend” him.

A Barisan rep has a brief scuffle with some Pakatan reps after DAP’s Thomas Su calls on Ganesan to leave. Scuffle ends with assemblymen from both sides who succeed in getting everybody to cool off.

12:15pm Sitting resumes. “Former” Speaker V. Sivakumar and some Pakatan reps ask “new” Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan to leave the hall. Ganesan is attired in the official Speaker’s garb. A heated argument ensues.

12:01pm Perak assemblymen still observing one-hour adjournment. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and executive councillors return to the hall after a short break.
The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, is expected to deliver his opening address at 12:30pm.

The address was initially supposed to have been delivered this morning after a short statement from “former” Speaker V. Sivakumar, but he had instead used the opportunity to order Dr Zambry and six executive councillors -- whom he had suspended earlier -- as well as the three “Barisan-friendly” independent reps, out of the Dewan.

This had sparked the shouting match and the proposing of motions ahead of the original agenda.
Sivakumar is still seated in the Speaker’s chair and is conferring with his Pakatan Rakyat colleagues. “New” Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan is conferring with his Barisan colleagues. More sparks are expected.

Noon “Former” Speaker V. Sivakumar says this mornings proceedings are not valid, noting that the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, had yet to deliver his opening address. Sivakumar says that the sitting proper begins only after the opening address.

It is believed that Raja Nazrin is preparing to deliver his address as soon as the one-hour adjournment is over.

11:20am House also passes motion to declare March 3 “under the tree” sitting as invalid and the resolutions passed therein as invalid.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir asks for Assembly to “stand down” for an hour. All assemblymen return to their seats.

V. Sivakumar is still seated in the Speaker’s chair. Ganesan is seated in a chair behind Dr Zambry with the Barisan assemblymen.

11.05am Newly-appointed Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan receives motions to form new committees for Public Accounts, Standing Orders, as well as Rights Privileges, with new members. All motions are passed.

10:55am Datuk R. Ganesan puts on the Speaker’s robes to the cheers of Barisan assemblymen and Barisan-friendly independent reps and takes his oath. Sivakumar stands up to protest.

10:42am Former mentri besar and Pengkalan Hulu assemblyman Tajol Rosli and several Barisan reps declare that all 28 Barisan reps and the three Barisan-friendly assemblymen have voted to remove V. Sivakumar as Speaker.

V. Sivakumar’s microphone is switched off. Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong, whose resignation from DAP led to the Barisan takeover of the state government, tries to take over the Speaker’s role.

Hee announces that Sivakumar has to leave the hall because the majority has voted him out and he has lost the confidence of the assembly.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir proposes Datuk R. Ganesan be appointed the new Speaker. Hamidah Osman seconds the motion and Hee announces at 10:50am that Ganesan is the new Speaker. Sivakumar still refuses to leave.

Earlier, Sivakumar had directed the sergeant-at-arms to remove Dr Zambry, his six excos and the three independents from the hall, but the sergeant-at-arms refused to follow his instructions.

10:35am After 20mins of shouting, nothing has been really settled.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir twice tries to put forward a motion to sack Speaker V. Sivakumar, with all Barisan Nasional reps raising their hands in agreement. Sivakumar rejects the motion both times.

Pakatan reps are chanting “Keluar, keluar” (“out, get out”). Sivakumar is still calling for the suspended Zambry and his six excos to leave the hall before proceedings can begin.

10:25am Yet more arrests (again!) outside the state secretariat, this time it’s Dr Parit Buntar MP Mujahid Yusof Rawa of PAS. DAP vet Lim Kit Siang says others arrested include DAP Ayer Tawar councillor Phang Hean Chong and Ipoh councillor Chan Tong Tuan.

10:15am Assembly gets heated, with intense shouting match. Speaker V. Sivakumar directs Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the six state executive councillors Zambry had appointed to leave the Assembly. Sivakumar had last month suspended them.

Dr Zambry and the Barisan reps sitting on the left of the Speaker ignore calls from Pakatan reps for those suspended to leave the Dewan. Sivakumar refuses to begin proceedings unless the suspended lawmakers leave.

10:06am Yet another arrest, this time of Sg Siput Member of Parliament Jeyakumar, who was detained about 10m from the so-called “democracy tree” where the historic “under the tree” assembly was held on March 3.

10:05am All Perak state assemblymen, special guests with invitations and accredited media are allowed into the Dewan. Pakatan reps sit on the right side of the Speaker (the “government side”).

Police conduct strict checks of all ID passes. All people scanned with metal detectors. Men without songkok (Malay headgear) and a female reporter in traditional Punjabi outfit were denied entry.

Shouting can be heard from within the Dewan.

10:01am PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub detained for illegal assembly about 20m from the so-called “democracy tree” where the historic “under the tree” assembly was held on March 3.
10:00am The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, arrives at the state secretariat building.
9:50am According to Lim Kit Siang, those arrested so far include Lau Dak Kee, DAP veteran chairman, former rep R.K. Muthu, blogger Zorro (Bernard Khoo), Lee Kong Hing, previous Negri Sembilan state organising secretary, Sg Pinang rep Koid Teng Guan, Bahau rep Tey Kok Seong, Temiang rep Ng Chin Tsai, Teratai rep Jenice Lee, Melaka rep Khoo Poay Tiong, Taiping DAP Youth chief Tey Kok Lim.

9:40am Another two arrests, this time it’s DAP’s R.K. Muthu, former Gopeng assemblyman, and former Perak DAP chief Lau Dak Kee.

9:30am Police and FRU (Field Reserve Unit) rush to a coffeeshop near state secretariat building where supporters (believed to be DAP) have gathered. In their attempt to disperse the crowd, a scuffle ensues. The coffeeshop owner is now closing his shop.

Eight more people arrested, to bring the total to 20, for going against the court order and gathering within 500m of the state secretariat building. Their identities are unknown.

9:15am Tight security maintained around state secretariat building, honour guard has arrived ahead of the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah, who will deliver the opening address at the Assembly.

9:00am Police detain P. Sugumaran, political secretary to Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M. Kulasegaran, for trying to force his way through the barricades surrounding the state secretariat building.

8:55am Police truck carrying first batch of detainees leaves the state secretariat building. Among the 11 arrested is Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee.

8:45am Police arrest three men wearing t-shirts with the slogan “Kembalikan hak rakyat” (Give the people back their rights) after a scuffle outside the state secretariat building.

8:32am Police arrest PKR Wanita national chief and Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin and a few supporters for trying to force their way into the state secretariat building. Supporters are wearing black and carrying banners with pictures of the royalty.

8:20am All 28 Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen, including ousted mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and perhaps-soon-to-be-ousted Speaker V. Sivakumar leave for the state secretariat building from the Grand View Hotel in Ipoh in a convoy of cars led by police escort.

6:45am Police seize more than 200 t-shirts with the words “One Black Malaysia” printed on them from a stall next to the Kampung Manjoi Baru surau.

5:30am Pakatan Rakyat holds a mass prayer at a surau (Muslim shrine) in Kampung Manjoi Baru in Ipoh; participants pray for the State Legislative Assembly to be dissolved.

IPOH: All eyes are on this so-called sleepy town once more as the battle lines are drawn between the legitimate Perak state government and the party holding on to power without a mandate -- yet which party wears which label is still a matter of fierce dispute.

The war between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat has seen battles in backrooms and courtrooms, on the streets and under a rain tree, in the corridors of power and within the drawing rooms of the populace.

This time the arena is again the State Legislative Assembly, with a strong show of supporters expected at the state secretariat building despite police warnings not to gather and a court order barring any member of the public or a political party without legitimate business from approaching within 500m of the building.

Pakatan is eager to defer any sitting to after May 13 -- the six-month deadline from the last sitting in November last year -- so that the Assembly is automatically dissolved and fresh elections have to be called.

Meanwhile, Barisan is pinning its hopes on the sitting on so that they can hold on to power until the next general election.

The battle proper will begin after the opening royal address by the Raja Muda (Regent) of Perak, Raja Nazrin Shah.

There will be many duels, from the petty to the iconic, in the august House Thursday morning -- from which assemblymen get to sit on the “state government seats,” to the expected motion of no-confidence that Barisan will use to see off the thorn in their side, Speaker V. Sivakumar, and appoint a new one.

As the Speaker, Sivakumar could reject the motion and all hell could break loose very early in the day. Or he could try to adjourn the sitting after the royal address.

Whatever ever happens in the Assembly today, it is a sure bet that the war will not end here and it will be some time before the people of Perak get to see some peace and quiet in their “sleepy town.”