'This is information age, not the dinosaur period'

Senior Perak Pakatan Rakyat leader Ngeh Koo Ham has reminded the BN-led state government that this is not the age of dinosaurs.

He was commenting on a directive that  bans portable computers, video cameras and mobile phones from being taken into the legislative assembly sitting which starts today.

The sitting will debate the additional RM80 million required for the 2010 budget.

Ngeh said the assembly secretary has no authority to prevent representatives from bringing in laptops and that this goes against a 2004 ruling which encourages assemblypersons to use laptops for the benefit of their constituencies.

"This is the information age. The world is moving forward in technology but (Perak MB) Zambry (Abd Kadir) is going backwards," said the state DAP chief and Sitiawan representative.

Ngeh also pointed out the ban on various electronic gadgets is against the Standing Orders which only bans the entry of dangerous weapons into the House.

'No sarcasm, please'

He also took Zambry to task for his comment in the last assembly sitting on the issue of land titles.

Ngeh had wanted to know how many land titles had been issued and to whom they were approved.

Zambry (right) allegedly brushed the question aside, telling the DAP leader to check with the Land Office.

Ngeh said this was no way for the head of the state to respond in the assembly.

"He is accountable to elected representatives and subject to questioning by us - and should not give sarcastic answers."