The never-ending political turmoil in Perak took another twist today when speaker V Sivakumar suspended the state assembly secretary today - the second time in as many months.

perak speaker sivakumar 180409 Sivakumar ( left ) said state secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri was suspended for issuing a notice to convene the Perak assembly on May 7 without the speaker’s consent or knowledge.

“It is an act of insubordination and (I) hereby appoint Misbahul Munir Marduki (as his replacement),” he said in a four-paragraph press release today.

On March 2, Sivakumar suspended Abdullah Antong indefinitely after the latter openly rebuked the former’s decision to issue notice of an emergency sitting of the state assembly on March 3.

At the time, Sivakumar also named Misbahul Munir, the political secretary of ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, as Abdullah Antong’s replacement.

Will seek clarification from palace

Regarding the May 7 sitting, Sivakumar said he would need to determine if the palace had given permission for an assembly to be convened.

perak state assembly 180409 “Meanwhile, the purported sitting on May 7 cannot proceed, pending clarification,” he said, adding that he would write a letter to seek clarification from the palace.

The May 7 sitting - to be held at the Perak secretariat complex ( photo ) with houses the state assembly - is the latest battle between the newly-installed Barisan Nasional state government and the ousted Pakatan Rakyat government.

First on the BN’s agenda is believed to be the removal of Sivakumar as the speaker, as he had shown hostility to the new government.

bukit gantang by election zambry abdul kadir ceramah 010409 06 Secondly, it is understood that BN will be tabling a motion of confidence on Zambry Abd Kadir as menteri besar, thereby legitimising his command of the majority in the house.

BN came to power in Perak after the dramatic defections by three Pakatan assemblypersons in becoming “BN-friendly” independents in early February.

However, Pakatan is still claiming that Nizar as the rightful menteri besar and is pushing for a dissolution of the state assembly to pave the way for fresh polls.