PERAK GOVERNMENT CRISIS AS IT UNFOLDS

Perak state government crisis: Chronology of events today

9.50AM: Najib and Perak deputy Umno chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrive at the Istana Kinta in Ipoh for an audience with Sultan Azlan Shah, and left at 10.30am.

11.00AM: Najib returns to Istana Kinta with the four former Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen -- Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, Hee Yit Foong and Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim to meet the Sultan. They leave at 11.30am

11:38AM: Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin tells reporters at a function in Bagan Serai he has just been summoned to Istana Kinta.

11.50AM: Najib tells a press conference at the Perak Umno HQ that the Sultan wants to meet all BN assemblymen and three independents before deciding whether to dissolve the State Assembly or call for Nizar's resignation.

11.57AM: Perak Speaker V.Sivakumar leaves the High Court after applying to the court to declare the resignation letters of the three assemblymen as valid, and that their seats are vacant.

12:30PM: IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan warns of stern action against those who take part in any illegal gatherings in the state.

12.50PM: Najib chairs an Umno meeting where the choice of a new MB is discussed.

1.10PM: Nizar leaves the palace, waving and smiling at reporters, after a 15 minute meeting with the Sultan.

1.30PM: Najib ends his Perak Umno meeting and left without meeting the press.

2PM: PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim arrives at the Mentri Besar's house. Also present were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and PKR vice-president Azmin Ali.

3PM: Sultan's office issues statement, saying Mohd Nizar had been told to resign with the entire state executive council,

3.20PM: All top Pakatan leaders except Kedah MB Azizan Razak and Kelantan MB Niz Aziz Nik Mat converge at Nizar's official residence.

4.05PM: State Secretary Abdul Rahman Hashim instructs Nizar and all exco members to vacate their offices at the state secretariat as soon as possible. They are also told to hand in their official car keys and the keys to their offices. All Pakatan officials in the complex are told to pack up and leave by 5pm.

4.10PM: Roads leading to the state secretariat are blocked by police to stop people from gathering there. Police and FRU secure the State Secretariat building.

4.40PM: Nizar tells a press conference that he will not resign, and called on the people to back his Pakatan government, saying the BN's majority may not be a valid one.

4.45pm: PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang says Pakatan leadership fully backs Nizar's government which will not resign unless a special state assembly session is called or fresh elections are held. However, PM Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi calls on Pakatan Rakyat to accept Barisan's rule in Perak.

4.50PM: Anwar says Pakatan Rakyat wants to meet the Sultan to convince him to dissolve the assembly.

4.58PM : Najib and Perak BN representatives arrive at Istana Kinta.

5.50pm: Abdullah arrives at Istana Kinta for an audience with the Sultan Azlan Shah. He left at 6.15pm.

New government to be sworn in tomorrow.

SOURCE:SUN2SURF