The saga of the war of words and accusations between former Pakatan assembly speaker V Sivakumar and BN speaker R Ganesan continued on the fourth day of the 2011 state budget sitting today.

Sivakumar’s accusations that his arch political rival was being both revengeful and cowardly did not go well with Ganesan, who refuted the allegations.

NONE Sivakumar ( centre of front row, in pic ) told a media conference today that “Ganesan is allegedly a coward for not allowing him to speak during the assembly sitting for the past two days.

“He is frightened that I might expose his weaknesses in carrying out the duties of the speaker and he is revengeful that I was the former speaker.

“I had stood up 16 times yesterday to seek permission to debate on the state budget but he never gave me a chance,” Sivakumar said.

NONE “I am a professional in carrying out my duties in a fair and just manner as the state speaker and there is no truth to such accusations….(Sivakumar) seems to be a sore loser,” Ganesan ( left ) countered.

Sivakumar also alleged that Ganesan’s ruling yesterday to refer two assemblypersons Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah (Titi Serong) and Hasbullah Osman (Temenggor) to the Committee of Privileges for breach of conduct in the House, is invalid as no vote was taken from the House members on these two issues.

In rebuttal Ganesan said, “I have the authority as speaker to do so under Article 89 of the Standing Orders (of the Perak Legislative Assembly).”

Ganesan: ‘ I don't need advice’

He claimed that he was well-versed with the rules of the House and does not need Sivakumar’s advice on how to conduct the sittings in the House.

Article 89 states: The decision of Mr Speaker upon any point of interpretation of any of these Standing Orders, or upon any matter of practice, shall subject to a substantive motion moved for that purpose, be final, and Mr Speaker may from time to time issue rulings thereon.

hee yit foong pc at kl 050409 02 Sivakumar’s contention is that Ganesan should allow the House to proceed without a lunch-break by appointing his deputy Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang assemblyperson, left ) to chair the meet while he takes a break to give more time for the elected members to debate on the state budget.

He said that when Ganesan takes the chair, he does not leave until the House ends for the day, and he has been doing so for the past three days.

However, today Ganesan called for a break of 180 minutes for Friday prayers at 12.30pm.

The fear in BN circles is that if Hee takes the chair, the opposition may have the upper hand and cause havoc by disrupting the budget assembly sitting.

Ganesan ticked Sivakumar off, telling him to keep all his advice only for Pakatan lawmakers, and that he (Ganesan) does not need his advice.

“Has he (Sivakumar) been speaker for 11 years that he wants to advice me now?” he asked sarcastically.