No ‘Speaker vs Speaker’ face-off

IPOH: The much anticipated second face-off between ousted Perak Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar and his successor Datuk R. Ganesan at the State Secretariat building failed to materialise.

Sivakumar, who said last Friday that he would still report for duty, did not turn up on Monday.

Pressmen had started to gather at the building as early as 9am but were later told by Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham that Sivakumar would not be turning up at the office.

Ngeh said the Tronoh assemblyman would not be turning up at the office for security reasons.

He said Sivakumar was asked to stay away to avoid a repeat of last Thursday’s pandemonium in the Assembly.

Ngeh said Sivakumar’s absence from the State Secretariat building Monday did not mean Pakatan Rakyat recognised Ganesan as the new Speaker.

Ganesan arrived at the State Secretariat building at 9.50am to pay a courtesy call on Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He said he was not in a hurry to move into the Speaker’s office as he wanted to give time for Sivakumar to pack his things.

Ganesan said he would direct the building administration to take necessary steps if Sivakumar refused to vacate the office.

Asked whether he should get a declaration that he is the legally elected speaker, Ganesan retorted:

“Why should I? I have no doubt I was legally elected.”