IPOH: After the six-hour tragedy of May 7, few journalists had expected a quick and speedy resolution to Perak's second, or third, legislative assembly (DUN) sitting of the year.

However, despite the two sittings today — complete with separate speakers, menteris besar and even opening prayers — there were fewer casualties.

There was also no repeat of scuffles within the legislative assembly hall or outside the state government office.

The only casualties were Pakatan Rakyat-appointed (PR) Speaker V Sivakumar, who was unceremoniously stripped off his robes inside the state office, and his DAP colleague Nga Kor Ming. Nga alleged that police manning the DUN had also "literally grabbed him by the balls".

Barely 24 hours before the meeting, the authorities, Barisan Nasional -appointed (BN) Speaker Datuk R Ganesan and the local Umno members had taken the necessary precautions (See Perak state assembly braces for another storm).

For despite the relative calm and ease of movement outside the perimeters of the state government office, security going into the legislative hall was tighter than the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Journalists and photographers, who began entering the hall at 9.30am, were frisked, poked and individually scanned before getting their bags searched thoroughly.

By contrast, police personnel, who numbered more than 300, were seen enjoying their last roti canai along with two elderly joggers at the only mamak restaurant across the state office. Incidentally, the Perak DAP office is housed above the restaurant.

Media personnel, invited guests and government officers were the first group scheduled by Ganesan to enter the hall at 9.30am.

Interestingly, before the last reporter entered the hall, almost 100 guests and officers were already seated at their places. So were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his backbenchers, who formed the second group of people allowed into the hall.

BN-friendly independents Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering), Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang) were also "early".

Ganesan was in the speaker's seat fortified by some 15 security personnel.

The bell signalling the commencement of the sitting promptly rang at 10am, and Ganesan began the sitting by expressing the state legislative assembly's condolences over the Kampar tragedy, taking a minute's silence and reminding the representatives of the prohibitions he had installed a day earlier.

Representatives were prohibited from taking videos, using their mobile phones or laptops during the sitting. However, during the entire proceeding, Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib (Slim-BN) was seen typing away at his laptop.

Ganesan then proceeded by asking Zambry to deliver the Perak Budget 2010 speech. Without much fuss or debate, the budget had passed the second reading in less than 20 minutes.

The speaker's timetable worked to the ruling government's advantage as it was another 25 minutes before sounds of commotion announcing the arrival of PR's representatives were heard.

Ganesan promptly adjourned sitting till 11.20am as photographers rushed to the entrance. Amid the shouting and some shoving, "the other" Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his backbenchers entered the hall with Thomas Su (Pasir Pinji) chanting "Speaker haram! Bodyguard banyak!".

Looking amused, the BN backbenchers kept their peace, while officials and guests laughed off the spectacle.

It was another 15 minutes before Sivakumar took his seat on the opposition side of the hall and a second doa was read out.

In the midst, Chang Lih Kang (Teja-PKR) used the microphone to bellow: "Speaker haram! Sila keluar dewan!"

After the commotion, the PR side of the sitting passed three motions — to suspend all national service camps or outdoor programmes, to recognise the auditor-general's report on Perak and appoint PKR state chief Osman Abdul Rahman as a senator.

At 11.20am, Ganesan reconvened his sitting and managed to pass Perak's 2010 Budget amid the continuous derision from PR representatives.

Despite their attempts at distracting him, Ganesan kept to the script. He was so focused that at one point of time, the former Sungkai representative could not hear Zambry's attempts to read his script.

For a brief moment, both spoke into the microphone. But by this time it did not matter, as the sitting was rendered academic, although BN might have gotten the result it wanted.

It is unlikely, at this point in time, to see Osman being sworn in as a senator at Dewan Negara, while Zambry's budget will begin working in another two months time.

By this time too, not only were PR representatives treating the BN sitting as a non-event but guests and government officers alike were seen walking and talking on their phones at will. Decorum and respect had abandoned the assembly hall.

Shortly, after BN backbenchers had passed their budget, Sivakumar adjourned his sitting and PR assemblypersons left the hall for their press conference.

During the press conference, held at the DUN library, Sivakumar said he had been roughed up while the police were tearing off his robe.

"Some 20 policemen, some in uniform and others in plainclothes, grabbed me and seized the speaker's robe from me.

"In the process, I was choked and the robe was torn," said the Tronoh assemblyman.

At another press conference at 1.30pm, Nizar told reporters he would also file police reports for assault, excessive police force used and a poison pen letter.

BN adjourned their sitting at around 1pm.

In the second press conference, a beaming Zambry said he was pleased with today's sitting.

"Despite the chaotic environment, the BN reps behaved well. BN always follows the rules, and I wish to congratulate our reps for maintaining the decorum," said Zambry.

Commenting on his counterparts from PR, Zambry said they were "quite auta (nonsensical)" and were only looking to "dramatise" the event.

"They were here to provoke us into acting against them and then use it to gain public sympathy."

By 3pm, with the actors off the stage, things returned to normal. But there is a sense in Perak, at least, that the circus has not left town yet.