Perak Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat elected reps are set for a collision course as both sides have called for a state assembly sitting on Oct 28.

sivakumar and zambry at perak state assembly 130509 02 In a statement released this evening, Pakatan's ousted speaker V Sivakumar ( right ) announced the Oct 28 sitting.

This coincides with the date set by BN speaker R Ganesan on Monday for the tabling of the state budget, which left Pakatan in a quandary as they do not recognise the former as the legitimate speaker.

"We do not recognise Ganesan as the legitimate speaker. Why should we attend the meeting under his directive?" said a senior Pakatan state rep who declined to be named.

“The aim is get inside the state assembly, and take control of the House,” he said, adding that this is a "face saving" tactic to nullify Ganesan’s order for a sitting.

Speaking to Malaysiakini yesterday, Ganesan said Sivakumar would only be permitted into the state assembly chambers in his capacity as Tronoh state rep.

However, he declined to reveal the sort of action which could be taken on Sivakumar if he attempted to take control of the speaker’s chair.

"We would know when the time comes... we have 31 members to their 28. They cannot do anything," he added.

Goal is to disrupt proceedings?

This would be the second time since May where Pakatan reps would put up a symbolic fight for control of the house after being ousted as the state government.

The Pakatan government crumbled on Feb 3 after three of its members defected and sided BN, which now controls 31 out of the 59 seats.

Pakatan is using legal and moral reasons to stake its claim as the legitimately elected state government.

r ganesan 130509 They also maintained that Ganesan's 'election' as speaker during the May 7 assembly was illegitimate as Sivakumar was still presiding during the process.

The May 7 sitting was marred by a fracas between the rival coalition members followed by the physical removal of Sivakumar from the speaker’s chair by the police, on Ganesan’s instructions.

The riotous sitting was concluded as soon as the royal address was made.

This time round, a successful disruption of the budget tabling process might cause the financial paralysis of the state administration.

Ganesan comes under fire

In another development, Pantai Remis state rep Nga Kor Ming ( below ) chided Ganesan for issuing notices for the Oct 28 sitting only yesterday.

"The whole procedure is a mockery of the state laws and all assembly members must be given a 14-day advance notice before the budget sitting to prepare the oral and written questions.

bukit gantang by election nga kor ming dap ceramah 310309 01 A few of us received notices on Monday - while others have yet to - so it is impossible to prepare all the questions in one day and submit them to the assembly secretary today," he said.

"This shows the ignorance of the illegal speaker (Ganesan) that he is not well-versed with the Standing Orders," he added.

In Sivakumar's notice today, it was mentioned that only 49 state reps received notices.

This is because 10 BN state reps were suspended by the Pakatan-controlled Rights and Privileges Committee earlier this year.

The 10 BN state reps mounted a successful legal challenge against the suspension order, but Pakatan is upholding the committee's decision based on their interpretation of the judgment.

Police report lodged

khalil idham lim In another development, Titi Serong state rep Idham Lim ( left ) today lodged a police report against Ganesan for being an illegal speaker.

Responding to this, Ganesan chided Khalil for causing confusion amongst the public and insisted that he was the legitimate speaker.

He said the Oct 28 sitting he would be convening was legal because the Perak Sultan had given his consent.

"Tronoh assemblyman V Sivakumar had a number of times contravened the state constitution by convening an 'assembly' without the consent of the Sultan of Perak.

"In contrast, when I was appointed speaker, I sought the consent of the sultan when calling for an assembly on May 5, 2008; June 24, 2008 and Nov 10, 2008," said Ganesan, according to Bernama.

He added that a police report would be lodged against Sivakumar for impersonating the speaker.

"A speaker is elected through a voting process by state assemblymen in the assembly and not through a general election," he said.