Malaysian court rules against ethnic Indian speaker
April 16th, 2009 - 12:54 pm ICT by IANSKuala Lumpur, April 16 (IANS) Malaysia’s Federal Court Thursday ruled that Perak state Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar did not have the power to suspend Mentri Besar (chief minister) Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six ministers from the state legislature.
Intervening in a constitutional dispute, the court lifted the suspension on Qadir and his ministers and ruled that the seven could attend the next assembly sitting.
Court of Appeal president Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, who chaired the five-man panel Thursday, said that the decision was “unanimous”, Star Online reported.
Sivakumar, Malaysia’s first ethnic Indian presiding officer, suspended Qadir and six ministers from all state assembly sittings for 18 months in February, citing powers vested in his office.
The crisis has its genesis in the change of government in Perak state. After an opposition-ruled government lost majority in the assembly due to defection, a new government led by Qadir took office.
Sivakumar, elected on the opposition ticket, refused to recognise the new government.
- Malaysian court settles issue of chief minister's position - Feb 09, 2010
- Court to decide on Malaysian Indian speaker's ruling - Apr 14, 2009
- Malaysian state's Indian speaker cool to moves to replace him - May 02, 2009
- Malaysian Indian speaker suspends assembly secretary - Apr 19, 2009
- Malaysian Indian legislator quits party - Jun 15, 2010
- Lodge police complaint against Perak speaker: Malaysian PM (Lead) - Feb 19, 2009
- Two speakers cause chaos at Malaysian state assembly - May 07, 2009
- Malaysian Indian presiding official questioned - Feb 24, 2009
- Malaysian state may replace speaker with another Indian - May 01, 2009
- Malaysian Indian legislator quits party (Lead) - Jun 15, 2010
- Ethnic Indian speaker suspends entire Malaysian state ministry - Feb 19, 2009
- Ethnic Indian speaker ejected from Malaysian state assembly (Lead) - May 07, 2009
- Malaysian Indian speaker criticised for suspending ministry - Feb 20, 2009
- Hindu temple faces demolition in Malaysia - Dec 11, 2009
- Malaysian Indian Congress Secretary General nominated for speaker's job - May 02, 2009
Tags: alauddin, assembly speaker, chief minister, court of appeal, defection, ethnic indian, genesis, kadir, kuala lumpur, malaysian court, opposition, perak state, presiding officer, sittings, sivakumar, state assembly, state legislature
