Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had allegedly acted in contempt of the Perak state assembly by urging Barisan Nasional state reps to defy speaker V Sivakumar, said DAP Perak chief Ngeh Khoo Ham.

abdullah ahmad badawi 020209 02 Ngeh warned that action can be taken against Abdullah, who yesterday urged newly appointed Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his six executive councillors (exco) to defy the speaker's suspension order.

Ngeh said Sivakumar and the committee of special privileges had acted within the state's constitution and laws.

"It is totally disappointing to note that our prime minister has asked Zambry to defy the law," he added in a statement today.

On Wednesday, the Perak crisis took a new twist when Sivakumar slapped Zambry and his six exco members with a 18 and 12 month suspension respectively for contempt of the state assembly.

This has effectively put BN as the minority in the state assembly which has to convene in April.

Cops can't act on Speaker

ngeh koo ham Meanwhile, Ngeh accused Abdullah of further acting against the law by advising Zambry to lodge a police report against the speaker.

He explained that Section 3 of the Perak Legislative Assembly (Privileges) Enactment 1959 states that all members of the legislative assembly, including the speaker, have legal immunity for anything said or done in the state assembly or any committee.

"When is Abdullah and Barisan Nasional going to respect the law of this land? To BN, only they can rule and no others. So they use all ways and means to frustrate the Perak Pakatan Rakyat government.

"Laws only apply to others and not to BN. I call on all parties to uphold the rule of law in this beloved land of Malaysia," added the lawyer-turned-politician.

Will Najib be PM for all?

In another development, DAP deputy chairperson Dr Tan Seng Giaw questioned if Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak wants to be a prime minister for all Malaysians.

najib announce new bn perak state govt 040209 03 According to him, the premier-in-waiting's actions appear to be on the contrary since the latter was involved in the worsening political crisis in Perak.

Tan said Najib, who is suppose to take over as prime minister next month, should be focusing on the ailing economy and not cause problems in Perak.

"He continues to praise Zambry and vilify (Pakatan Rakyat's ousted menteri besar) Mohd Nizar (Jamaluddin). Had he behaved as a leader, a statesman, who represents all Malaysians and all political parties, he would have avoided any action that is too partial, riding roughshod over others.

"Is he for all Malaysians or just for Umno and BN?" asked the veteran politician in a statement.