MALAYSIA State of PERAK: Constituional Crisis follows Federal Gov't Coup

UPDATE !

Extracts Live Report of the last hour, events in Kuala Kangsar, the Royal Capital of Perak, where the DISPUTED new Perak State Government, is supposedly to be installed :

14:13 : We are now in the Masjid Ubudiah, close to the Istana. Friday prayers are drawing to a close now.

14:15 : Outside the mosque in Kuala Kangsar, a row of police trucks are on standby with police and riot police making their presence felt.

14:15 : People are now leaving the mosque.

14:17 : The road to the mosque and the Istana have been blocked by the policeclose to the roundabout. We have had to walk 2km to reach here.

14:18 : It's a hot sweltering afternoon here. Along the road uphill to the mosque stand large mansions. On the other side of the road lie more humble abodes with zinc roofs.

14:19 : The crowd outside the mosque is now chanting, "Allahu Akhbar", They are chanting, "Reformasi!" The roar is deafening.

14:22 : The crowd is swelling as more people emerge from the mosque. They are chanting near the porch inside the premises of the mosque, while the police are outside the premises on the road passing by the mosque below.

14:25 : Now they are chanting, "Hancur, Hancur, Umno! Hidup, hidup,. hidup, rakyat!" About 6,000 Perakians outside the mosque are now facing the FRU..

14:29 : A large group of 500 or so are heading to the Istana to meet the Sultan.

14:30 : But police fire teargas forcing them to turn back and head back to the direction of the mosque.

14:32 : Fisticuffs have broken out between the FRU and the frontline of the crowd. The riot police are outnumbered but they force the crowd back with teargas.

14:36 : A Malay couple approach me. The woman, an activist with the Abolish ISA Movement, is carrying a child. "See what they have done," she tell mes, showing her teary eight year old child. "The tear gas has hit her."

14:38 : The crowd are still chanting, "Allahu Akhbar!" A Malay gentleman approaches me. "Are you from the media? Please tell the people that the MB is not derhaka against the sultan. He is trying to defend the administration of the state from corruption in the people's interest."

14:38 : SIrens are wailing outside the mosque now.

14:39 : The water cannons have arrived. The people outside have scattered, and not many are now remaining.

14:41 : About a housand people are still outside. Further away, people are standing on the perimeter outside the mosque.

14:42 : They are still chanting, "Allahu Akhbar! There is no god but Allah!" "Reformasi! Reformasi! Reformasi. Hidup hidup .... hidup hidup....hidup rakyat!"

14:43 : These are tumultuous scenes.

14:45 : The eight-year-old girl near me, Asiah, is recovering from tear gas. She is now sitting up. I think she will be okay, perhaps she is in a state of shock.

14:46 : Two thousand people are now sitting on the road, directly facing the FRU water cannon trucks, which are blocking the way to the palace.

For minute by minute Live reports visit ANILNETTO.COM

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Ipoh, Perak residents reported difficult movement in the City. The Malaysian Police are closing off certain roads to prevent people movement. The constitutional Menteri Besar, as of this moment, is under siege by the Police.

Published: Friday February 6, 2009 MYT 2:10:00 PM

Nizar finds his office emptied

By TEH ENG HOCK and IVAN LOH

IPOH: All of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s belongings, including personal items and official documents, have been removed from the Mentri Besar’s office.

Nizar arrived at the State Secretariat building at 9.50am in his official car but was not allowed in until he stepped out to ask the security guards for permission.

When he arrived at his office, he was surprised to see that his cabinets and drawers had been emptied, with photos on the walls removed as well.

He said all the items had been taken away under the instruction of State Secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Hashim.

He described that his office as having been “ransacked”, without even a notice of eviction served on him.

“There’s nothing left, I had all my personal belongings in the drawer but have all have been taken away,” said Nizar at the Mentri Besar’s office on Friday.

“I don’t know where they kept my belongings but I believe they have kept them safely,” he added.

Nizar spoke briefly to pressmen in the room, stressing that the Pakatan Rakyat government was still the legal administration in Perak.

“At the state assembly, if there is a vote of no confidence on me then I will tender my resignation. That process must be adhered to,” he said.

He said he would continue with his daily duties, including contacting some of consultants and potential investors to postpone appointments that had been set earlier.

“I ask the people to remain calm. We are living in a world of law so the law supersedes,” he said.

Asked what would happen if new Mentri Besar Datuk Zambry Abd Kadir moved into the office Friday, Nizar said: “I will probably share the room with him. It’s better to have a ship with two captains isn’t it?”

The press conference was cut short by Abdul Rahman, who ordered reporters to leave the building at 10.10am.

His words fell on deaf ears, prompting Ipoh OCPD Asst Comm Azisman Alias to step in with his officers to escort Nizar, his aides, executive council members, and the media out.

But the situation quickly turned into a cat-and-mouse game between the police and the media, as reporters scattered into the rooms of other exco members instead of leaving the building.

ACP Azisman and his men had to go from room to room to constantly remind and escort the 50-odd pressmen out of the building.

At about 10.40am, Nizar was seen leaving the building in the official Mentri Besar’s car.

The Star