Members of the public reading the notice issued by a magistrate’s court banning anyone from coming within 500 metres of the State Secretariat building where the state assembly is to hold its sitting today. — NST picture by Muhaizan Yahya
10am Tight security at the Dewan entrance. All VIPs have to go through a scanner being allowed in. Media representatives have been told to wait in the lobby
9.35am Raja Nazrin and his wife arrive. A police helicopter circling the building earlier
9.10am Guards of honour, carrying flags and guests just took their position. Raja Nazrin is expected to arrive at 9.30am.
8.50am Several people, including a woman, have been detained after they managed to get through the 500m police barricade in front of the State Secretariat building this morning.
Police officers frantically ordered their men to make sure no one is allowed to pass through.
Security is tight with roadblocks at all roads leading to the building, causing massive jams in the city.
EARLIER REPORT Apart from two motions to remove the speaker and another for his replacement, three other motions to replace members of the standing orders, public accounts, and rights and privileges committees are expected to be tabled at the assembly sitting today.
Speaker V. Sivakumar said he had received notices of the motions.
He told a press conference that all the motions were not discussed with him.
Sivakumar said he was also surprised that there were an additional 30 names on the invitation list to the opening of the assembly.
“All I know is that observers are not allowed into the sitting. I asked for the names of the 30 guests for security reasons but was not given. Late yesterday, the names were struck out,” he said.
Besides the assemblymen, others allowed in are heads of departments and the media.
Sivakumar said his request for invitations to eight Perak MPs were rejected by the State Secretariat.
“I am disappointed,” he said.
Sivakumar also questioned why the passes for the media were only given out from 4.30pm yesterday.
“I am also unhappy that the list of names of media representatives was not given to me.”
On the sitting position of the assemblymen, he said: “I have not decided… I have to think of many other aspects.”
Sivakumar said he was confident that he would be able to control the sitting although there would be arguments and disputes raised by both sides.
“I have already chaired the sitting earlier… what more I have chaired a sitting under a tree.”
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