Perak Pakatan representatives said they were unhappy and had felt intimidated with the presence of police personnel inside and outside the state assembly today.

Former menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said: "I received a SMS saying that we will be arrested by the police if we cause trouble during the sitting."

NONE Nizar ( third from left ) was speaking at a Pakatan media conference at the state DAP headquarters after the sitting.

"We made our way into the assembly with fear in our hearts, and were confronted by police every step of our way. They created a climate of fear in the assembly area," said Nizar.

The 28 elected assemblypersons led by Nizar started their march from DAP headquarters at 8.35am and reached the gates of the state secretariat which houses the state assembly at 8.50am.

Their first obstacle in their journey came when Ipoh crime chief Glen Anthony tried to stop the group from proceeding.

However, Nizar pushed Anthony aside and continued walking into the state secretariat with the rest.

The group did not use the entrance set aside for them, foiling a bid by BN to keep track of their movements inside the state secretariat and state assembly.

NONE However, police and security personnel tried to keep them to the route arranged for them.

Still, the Pakatan representatives - who were supposed to take Lift 3 - took Lift 6 which was meant for the BN.

They then avoided Door D which had electronic scanners to screen them, and tried to enter through Door E, meant for BN.

They were delayed for about 20 minutes at the door by security personnel before being allowed to enter the chamber.

' Feared for their safety'

NONE Nizar said police personnel were standing "in a threatening manner" on both sides of the passage into the House.

"This is a complete reversal of the democratic principles and processes," said an angry Nizar.

Ousted Pakatan speaker V Sivakumar told the media that Perak has become a police state.

He also asked why the media had been prevented from entering the  chamber.

"This is an insult to democracy and freedom of the press," he said.

Because of the presence of royalty and other VIPs, the BN had placed the 102 media personnel in the visitors' gallery on the third floor.

DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham echoed Sivakumar's remark that Perak has become a police state.

A furious Ngeh said the police had no business to be in the House, as this was abuse of Section 124 of the Penal Code.

This stipulates that anyone who obstructs state legislators can be punished.