PKR vs UMNO

The article below has been taken from The Star Online on 19/02/2009. Please have a look.

ALOR SETAR: Kedah State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail defended his Perak Pakatan Rakyat counterpart, saying the Speaker had the right to suspend anyone who showed contempt to the House.

“My Perak counterpart, V. Sivakumar, was within his right to suspend Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the state exco members from the state assembly for 18 months and 12 months respectively.

“A speaker has the highest power within the context of the House. He can take action as he deems fit to protect the House,” he said when met by reporters after attending the opening of Wisma Darulaman’s new block on Thursday.

Dr Abdul Isa was commenting on a report that quoted Sivakumar as saying that he has barred Dr Zambry and all six Perak state executive council members for showing contempt for the House.

When asked about the implication of Sivakumar’s action, he said many things could happen, for example, if a motion needed to be passed, the Pakatan Rakyat would have the upper hand as their number was as big as that of the Barisan Nasional’s.