Tree assembly makes Malaysia laughing stock, says Syed Hamid

KOTA BARU, March 4 – Malaysianinsider– Bernama

The Perak state assembly sitting held under a tree yesterday is very shameful and tarnished the country’s image in the eyes of the world, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

The emergency sitting of 27 Opposition state representatives from Pas, the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) outisde Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan showed foreigners that this country’s people did not understand the law.

“Nowhere in this world do people have a sitting under a tree, people are laughing at us, like we don’t understand (laws). They may not agree they are no longer the government but there are other proceses that can be used.”

“I am tickled at the same time...want to have power by whatever means. This is not right, you want to have power, you have to follow the law,” Syed Hamid told reporters at a dialogue session with Kelantan Rela members here.

He said such bold action taken according to one’s whim to achieve political goals showed they did not care about laws.

“All this happens because there is no obedience of the law...as politicians chosen by the people we are not above the law. We have to follow laws, also this case is before the court,” he said.

He rejected the view of the Malaysian Bar Council that questioned police action to disallow the state assemblymen into Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Syed Hamid said the police move was apt.

“If we view it from one angle we may see there has been a mistake but actually the Bar Council should view it legally.

“It had been decided that the Speaker could not have a sitting, so entry into the House is trespassing and as such it is the police’s duty to stop them, the police is not taking sides but just ensuring that no untoward incident happens,” he said.

In another development, Syed Hamid said the Opposition were seen as taking advantage of the death in police detention of suspected car thief, A. Kugan, for their political interest.

He said the case had nothing to do wih politics and the Opposition should leave the case to police investigation and the decision of the Attorney-General if there was a crime committed.

“This case has criminal implications and effects. When an announcement was made by the PKR office, it was as if the party attempted to mix up criminal cases with politics, this case has nothing to do with politics.

“In our country, it is as if people take peace and order lightly. Demonstrating here and there, going from being peaceful to being chaotic,” he said.

Meanwhile, Syed Hamid said police personnel will be deployed as needed in the by-elections in Bukit Selambau in Kedah, Bukit Gantang (Perak) and Batang Ai (Sarawak).