Ganesan tightens screws on Pakatan
Barisan Nasional appointed speaker R Ganesan today moved to circumvent any attempts by Pakatan Rakyat to take control of the state assembly sitting.
Barisan Nasional appointed speaker R Ganesan today moved to circumvent any attempts by Pakatan Rakyat to take control of the state assembly sitting.
Pakatan Rakyat representatives will be the last individuals allowed into the chambers, thereby scuttling any chances of them making a grab for the speaker's chair or the government bench.
Ganesan (
photo, centre
) adds that more than 15 personnel will be charge of security and will be in the chambers to prevent any untoward incidents.
He will also be enforcing a ban on mobile phones, cameras and other recording devices. It is uncertain if these rules would be enforced on journalists covering the event.
However, there are several video cameras installed on the third floor of the state assembly chambers which is sanctioned by Ganesan.
"We need to show the real situation and the behaviour of the state assemblypersons in the House," Ganesan told a press conference this evening.
Video recordings by Pakatan reps played a major part in the discrediting of the Barisan Nasional government during the May 7 state assembly sitting, where Ganesan was 'elected' speaker.
On Pakatan's allegation that 15 'thugs' would be used to replace the sergeant-at-arms, Ganesan said they were civil servants in charge of security.
He also denied that the added security personnel were gangsters.
"I will ensure that the House proceeds in an orderly, peaceful and democratic manner," said Ganesan.
'Ganesan paranoid'
Meanwhile, Ganesan also took Pakatan state reps Ngeh Khoo Ham and Thomas Su to task for allegedly taking pictures of the cameras on the third floor without permission.
When contacted, Ngeh denied taking pictures covertly and said that Ganesan was being "paranoid" because his legitimacy as the speaker is in question.
"We just went to check on the arrangements for tomorrow because we have reliable information that we may be harmed," said Ngeh, in reference to earlier accusations about the 15 'thugs'.
On Ganesan employing added security personnel, Ngeh accused the former of making a mockery of the state legislative assembly process.
He said Pakatan reps have never resorted to physical harm, but adds that BN has a track record of using physical force against Pakatan reps.
Ngeh cited two examples of BN's use of force, the first being the March 3 'tree assembly' where a group of unknown thugs physically stopped Pakatan reps.
In another example, Ngeh said BN had also illegally employed the police in the physical removal of ousted speaker V Sivakumar from the state assembly chambers during the May 7 sitting.
"Since the Perak crisis began, the only ones using force is BN. Our campaign to seek the dissolution of the state assembly has always been lawful," he said.
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