IPOH, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The Perak State Assembly sitting to approve the 2010 state budget began today without the attendance of the opposition members who entered the house during a break and held their "meeting".

The sitting proper began at about 10am with the "doa" (prayer) and Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan asked all assemblymen present to rise and observe a minute's silence over the collapse of a suspension bridge across the Kampar River in Kuala Dipang, Kampar, on Monday in which a primary schoolgirl drowned and two others are missing.

The sitting continued with the tabling of the 2010 Budget by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. The 28 opposition assemblymen remained outside the house.

Speaker Ganesan announced a one-hour break until 11.20am after Dr Zambry had tabled the budget.

Soon after, the opposition assemblymen entered the house and started their "meeting".

The former speaker, Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar, began the "meeting" with the "doa" and also asked the assemblymen to observe a moment's silence.

Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramanian, of the DAP, asked Ganesan to leave the speaker's seat, claiming he was not qualified to occupy the chair as he continued to practise law three months after having been appointed the speaker.

Ganesan remained in his seat throughout the opposition "meeting" while the Barisan Nasional (BN) ignored the "proceedings" and conversed amongst themselves.

Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming, of the DAP, said he wanted to lodge a police report because a police officer was rough with him as he entered the house.

Outside the state assembly premises, the situation was under control.

About 200 supporters of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat gathered near the Perak DAP office nearby, with some among the crowd performing the "solat hajat" (prayer of need) and others shouting various slogans.

Ipoh police chief ACP Azisman Alias said the situation was under control and there was no illegal assembly.

He said more than 200 policemen had been deployed around the state assembly building and that police instructions had been adhered to.

Azisman said a police helicopter hovering above the building helped to monitor traffic flow.