PAS' Titi Serong assemblyperson Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah will know tomorrow if he is to be penalised for reportedly claiming that a bomoh (witch doctor) had been smuggled into the Perak legislature two years ago.

NONE If found guilty, he may be suspended from the next assembly sitting as he had refused to appear before the rights and privileges committee in February to defend himself.

At a press conference after the opening of the assembly today, Khalil said: “Kamunting (assemblyperson Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid) had stood up and asked the speaker to refer me to the rights and privileges committee.

“No one seconded the motion and it was not even debated... so why should I attend?”

Khalil said he will not comply with the committee’s recommendations as its meeting was “illegal”.

“I know who brought the bomoh in, but I will only explain when the motion is moved according to the Standing Orders,” he said.

During the sitting on Dec 2 last year, Khalil had reportedly insinuated than an Umno lawmaker had brought a bomoh into the House on May 6, 2009, to cast a spell.

NONE The sitting that convened on May 7, 2009 had turned chaotic, with Pakatan Rakyat-appointed speaker V Sivakumar being forcefully dragged out of his seat and replaced by BN’s R Ganesan.

Sitiawan assemblyperson Ngeh Koo Ham (right) said that, if Khalil is punished without the proper procedures being followed, it would reflect badly on Ganesan for handling the matter "tyrannically" when he should remain non-partisan.

The Hansard of Dec 2, 2010 makes no mention of the allegation.

However,on May 4, 2009, Khalil had told Malaysiakini of his suspicions.

‘Police scanned me with detector’

                            

On another note, Opposition Leader and Pasir Panjang representative Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin criticised the police presence this morning.

nizar appeal to federal court 190609 01 The Perak PAS leader said more than 100 police personnel were stationed around the building where the state legislative assembly is located in Ipoh.

“When I was driving I had to pass three check-points and the police insisted on scanning me with a (metal) detector,” said Mohammad Nizar.

He claimed that only Pakatan representatives were subjected to this procedure.

Nizar said he intends to raise this matter in the House tomorrow if the number of cops is not reduced.