Malaysian political tussle triggers brawling, arrests
Posted: 07 May 2009 1145 hrs
IPOH - Malaysian legislators brawled and hurled insults Thursday as a tussle for control of a northern state assembly descended into pandemonium, while outside police arrested dozens of protesters.
Hundreds of police and riot squad officers were deployed at the Perak state parliament, which was blocked off with barricades to thwart protests as it reconvened after months of political controversy.
"It has become a war zone, it's a national and international disgrace," said top opposition figure Lim Kit Siang.
"It is more shameful and outrageous because even though we were officially invited by the (parliamentary) speaker we are refused entry," he told reporters after being turned away by riot police.
Perak has been in political limbo since February, when the Barisan Nasional coalition, which rules nationally, tried to oust the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance which won the state in general elections a year ago.
After defections cost the Pakatan Rakyat its delicate balance of power, the state sultan ordered it to quit but it refused, leading to a standoff until Thursday when the assembly reconvened.
There were chaotic scenes as the coalition ousted parliamentary speaker V. Sivakumar -- an opposition appointee who has been blocking the coalition's attempts to exert its authority.
The Malaysiakini news website, which had a reporter in the chamber, said Sivakumar was forcibly removed from the speaker's chair and dragged out of the parliament, triggering a melee as opposition legislators tried to shield him.
It said punches were thrown earlier as opposition lawmakers attempted to prevent the new Barisan Nasional speaker from entering the chamber, in chaotic scenes which saw a number of legislators climb up on tables.
Outside, police backed by water cannons cleared a demonstration by some 150 activists dressed in black, and arrested dozens including several legislators.
Salahuddin Ayub, youth chief of the Islamic opposition party PAS, said he had been taken into custody along with 63 other people.
"About 30 of us have been released after our statements were recorded," he told AFP by telephone from riot police headquarters in the state capital Ipoh.
Some were hauled in for gathering outside the assembly, in defiance of a police ban, while others were dragged out of nearby restaurants. Some were bystanders unwittingly caught up in the drama.
"This is just ridiculous, how can they just arrest the public like that?" opposition supporter R.K. Muthu told reporters at one of the restaurants facing the assembly.
"This is just like a curfew area. A fresh state election is the best way to solve all the problems for the past three months, let the people elect their government," he said just before being arrested.
- AFP/so/ir
Posted: 07 May 2009 1145 hrs
IPOH - Malaysian legislators brawled and hurled insults Thursday as a tussle for control of a northern state assembly descended into pandemonium, while outside police arrested dozens of protesters.
Hundreds of police and riot squad officers were deployed at the Perak state parliament, which was blocked off with barricades to thwart protests as it reconvened after months of political controversy.
"It has become a war zone, it's a national and international disgrace," said top opposition figure Lim Kit Siang.
"It is more shameful and outrageous because even though we were officially invited by the (parliamentary) speaker we are refused entry," he told reporters after being turned away by riot police.
Perak has been in political limbo since February, when the Barisan Nasional coalition, which rules nationally, tried to oust the Pakatan Rakyat opposition alliance which won the state in general elections a year ago.
After defections cost the Pakatan Rakyat its delicate balance of power, the state sultan ordered it to quit but it refused, leading to a standoff until Thursday when the assembly reconvened.
There were chaotic scenes as the coalition ousted parliamentary speaker V. Sivakumar -- an opposition appointee who has been blocking the coalition's attempts to exert its authority.
The Malaysiakini news website, which had a reporter in the chamber, said Sivakumar was forcibly removed from the speaker's chair and dragged out of the parliament, triggering a melee as opposition legislators tried to shield him.
It said punches were thrown earlier as opposition lawmakers attempted to prevent the new Barisan Nasional speaker from entering the chamber, in chaotic scenes which saw a number of legislators climb up on tables.
Outside, police backed by water cannons cleared a demonstration by some 150 activists dressed in black, and arrested dozens including several legislators.
Salahuddin Ayub, youth chief of the Islamic opposition party PAS, said he had been taken into custody along with 63 other people.
"About 30 of us have been released after our statements were recorded," he told AFP by telephone from riot police headquarters in the state capital Ipoh.
Some were hauled in for gathering outside the assembly, in defiance of a police ban, while others were dragged out of nearby restaurants. Some were bystanders unwittingly caught up in the drama.
"This is just ridiculous, how can they just arrest the public like that?" opposition supporter R.K. Muthu told reporters at one of the restaurants facing the assembly.
"This is just like a curfew area. A fresh state election is the best way to solve all the problems for the past three months, let the people elect their government," he said just before being arrested.
- AFP/so/ir
