V. Sivakumar
Encyclopedia
Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu better known as V. Sivakumar is a Malaysian politician from Perak
, and the current Speaker of the Perak State Assembly. He is the first ethnic Indian to become the speaker
of a Malaysian legislative body, succeeding Junus Wahid, the previous speaker of the State Assembly from UMNO
- Barisan Nasional
.
Sivakumar's tenure as speaker was shrouded in controversy surrounding his handling of the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis
, where the opposition Barisan Nasional managed to obtain three defections from the elected government, enabling Barisan Nasional under Zambry Abdul Kadir
to form the new government. Sivakumar had the members of the disputed new Barisan Nasional cabinet suspended for contempt of assembly. Many blogs, particularly Malaysia Today
run by the influential royal Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and news portals in cyberspace praised him for his resilience in insisting for an official vote of no-confidence against the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat
government of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
before taking charge. The mainstream media of Malaysia criticised him for being partisan and biased against Barisan Nasional.
Sivakumar entered politics in 1997, once serving as political secretary to Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran
, before winning the Tronoh state seat in the 2008 general election
, defeating Lee Kim Choy with a majority of 2,571. Sivakumar holds a Bachelor's in Legal Philosophy and a Master's in Business Administration. Sivakumar was nominated speaker by Pakatan Rakyat and while Barisan Nasional nominated Junus Wahid, the incumbent, to continue as speaker. A fired up debate ensued between the two sides, and Sivakumar was elected speaker through secret ballot on 25 August 2008 at 4.05pm with 31 votes, against Junus' 28 votes. Hee Yit Foong
was appointed deputy speaker soon after.
's government as the legitimate one and the second motion being the approval to dissolve the assembly to pave way for fresh polls in the state. Defying Sivakumar's directive, the Perak legal advisor, Ahmad Kamal Mohd Shahid prevented the notification of the emergency sitting from being released because the meeting did not obtain the consent of the Monarch. Sivakumar's lawyer Augustine Anthony countered the legal advisor citing that as an adjourned sitting, the session is not dissolved or prorogued and therefore does not require the consent of the Sultan.
Sivakumar cited the legislature's Standing Orders 89 as giving him final say in any interpretation of the state assembly's Standing Orders. On 2 March 2009 the Perak state secretary’s office issued a directive to lock the gates to the state assembly building ahead of the emergency sitting of the state assembly. The same day Sivakumar announced that he was suspending the assembly's secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri with immediate effect and that the emergency meeting of the assembly scheduled for 3 March would go ahead as planned. The suspension action was taken because of Abdullah's "failure to carry out his duties professionally", said Sivakumar.
assemblypersons were barred from entering the State Secretariat. Sivakumar, wearing his full speaker robes and a songkok declared a tree in the parking lot of the State Secretariat as the meeting place. The session was witnessed by curious onlookers defying police warnings to stay away a motion of confidence in Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
's government, a motion to affirm the suspension of Zambry Abdul Kadir
's Barisan Nasional
cabinet and a motion to dissolve the assembly for snap polls were passed unanimously, 27-0.
Barisan Nasional protested the legitimacy of the emergency session and none of their assemblypersons attended. Nizar despatched a letter to Sultan Azlan Shah to request an audience to discuss the dissolution of the assembly.
The tree used for shade during the session was then dubbed the "Tree of Democracy" by Pakatan Rakyat and a memorial plaque
was unveiled on 8 March 2009, the first year anniversary of the election which swept Pakatan Rakyat to power in Perak
. A webpage commemorating the tree was also created. http://www.democracytree.org/
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, and the current Speaker of the Perak State Assembly. He is the first ethnic Indian to become the speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of a Malaysian legislative body, succeeding Junus Wahid, the previous speaker of the State Assembly from UMNO
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
- Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
.
Sivakumar's tenure as speaker was shrouded in controversy surrounding his handling of the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis
2009 Perak constitutional crisis
The 2009 Perak constitutional crisis was a political dispute in Malaysia regarding the legitimacy of the Perak state government formed in February 2009. It began when three Pakatan Rakyat state legislators defected, causing a collapse of the state government...
, where the opposition Barisan Nasional managed to obtain three defections from the elected government, enabling Barisan Nasional under Zambry Abdul Kadir
Zambry Abdul Kadir
Dato' Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir is the current Menteri Besar of Perak and a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation , the leading party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.-Education:-Perak Constitutional Crisis:...
to form the new government. Sivakumar had the members of the disputed new Barisan Nasional cabinet suspended for contempt of assembly. Many blogs, particularly Malaysia Today
Malaysia Today
Malaysia Today is a popular Malaysian news blog. It is known for being critical of both the governing Barisan Nasional coalition and opposition parties such as the Democratic Action Party and Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Its founder and chief editor is Raja Petra Kamarudin, a former political detainee...
run by the influential royal Raja Petra Kamaruddin, and news portals in cyberspace praised him for his resilience in insisting for an official vote of no-confidence against the incumbent Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....
government of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the former Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Perak, a post equivalent to a Chief Minister and Member of Malaysian Parliament for Bukit Gantang. Nizar is the secretary of the Perak's Branch Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party . Nizar was appointed as...
before taking charge. The mainstream media of Malaysia criticised him for being partisan and biased against Barisan Nasional.
Early Life and Entry into Politics
Sivakumar was born in 1971 to M. Varatharaju and S. Karunakari.Sivakumar entered politics in 1997, once serving as political secretary to Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran
M. Kulasegaran
M. Kulasegaran s/o V. Murugeson commonly referred to as M. Kulasegaran is a Malaysian politician and is the current Member of Parliament for Ipoh Barat, Perak. He is a member the Democratic Action Party in the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition...
, before winning the Tronoh state seat in the 2008 general election
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
, defeating Lee Kim Choy with a majority of 2,571. Sivakumar holds a Bachelor's in Legal Philosophy and a Master's in Business Administration. Sivakumar was nominated speaker by Pakatan Rakyat and while Barisan Nasional nominated Junus Wahid, the incumbent, to continue as speaker. A fired up debate ensued between the two sides, and Sivakumar was elected speaker through secret ballot on 25 August 2008 at 4.05pm with 31 votes, against Junus' 28 votes. Hee Yit Foong
Hee Yit Foong
Hee Yit Foong is a Malaysian politician who is infamous for her role in the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis by resigning from the Democratic Action Party which she represented in the Malaysia General Election in 2008 and becoming an independent aligned with the ruling Barisan Nasional...
was appointed deputy speaker soon after.
Perak Constitutional Crisis
On 27 February 2009, Sivakumar called for an emergency sitting of the Assembly to be held on 3 March 2009 in order to vote on two motions, the first motion being the affirmation of Mohammad Nizar JamaluddinMohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the former Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Perak, a post equivalent to a Chief Minister and Member of Malaysian Parliament for Bukit Gantang. Nizar is the secretary of the Perak's Branch Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party . Nizar was appointed as...
's government as the legitimate one and the second motion being the approval to dissolve the assembly to pave way for fresh polls in the state. Defying Sivakumar's directive, the Perak legal advisor, Ahmad Kamal Mohd Shahid prevented the notification of the emergency sitting from being released because the meeting did not obtain the consent of the Monarch. Sivakumar's lawyer Augustine Anthony countered the legal advisor citing that as an adjourned sitting, the session is not dissolved or prorogued and therefore does not require the consent of the Sultan.
Sivakumar cited the legislature's Standing Orders 89 as giving him final say in any interpretation of the state assembly's Standing Orders. On 2 March 2009 the Perak state secretary’s office issued a directive to lock the gates to the state assembly building ahead of the emergency sitting of the state assembly. The same day Sivakumar announced that he was suspending the assembly's secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri with immediate effect and that the emergency meeting of the assembly scheduled for 3 March would go ahead as planned. The suspension action was taken because of Abdullah's "failure to carry out his duties professionally", said Sivakumar.
3 March Emergency Sitting
On 3 March 2009, amidst a strong police presence, Sivakumar attempted to convene the emergency session of the assembly, but Pakatan RakyatPakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat or PR is an informal Malaysian political coalition. It currently controls four state governments while in opposition to the ruling Barisan Nasional at the federal level....
assemblypersons were barred from entering the State Secretariat. Sivakumar, wearing his full speaker robes and a songkok declared a tree in the parking lot of the State Secretariat as the meeting place. The session was witnessed by curious onlookers defying police warnings to stay away a motion of confidence in Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin
Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the former Menteri Besar of the Malaysian state of Perak, a post equivalent to a Chief Minister and Member of Malaysian Parliament for Bukit Gantang. Nizar is the secretary of the Perak's Branch Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party . Nizar was appointed as...
's government, a motion to affirm the suspension of Zambry Abdul Kadir
Zambry Abdul Kadir
Dato' Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir is the current Menteri Besar of Perak and a Malaysian politician from the United Malays National Organisation , the leading party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.-Education:-Perak Constitutional Crisis:...
's Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
cabinet and a motion to dissolve the assembly for snap polls were passed unanimously, 27-0.
Barisan Nasional protested the legitimacy of the emergency session and none of their assemblypersons attended. Nizar despatched a letter to Sultan Azlan Shah to request an audience to discuss the dissolution of the assembly.
The tree used for shade during the session was then dubbed the "Tree of Democracy" by Pakatan Rakyat and a memorial plaque
Memorial Plaque
The Memorial Plaque was issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British and Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of the war....
was unveiled on 8 March 2009, the first year anniversary of the election which swept Pakatan Rakyat to power in Perak
Malaysian general election, 2008
The 12th Malaysian general election was held on March 8, 2008, in accordance with Malaysian laws for national elections, which states that a general election must be held no later than five years subsequent to the previous elections; the previous general election was held in 2004...
. A webpage commemorating the tree was also created. http://www.democracytree.org/