Three top Pakatan Rakyat leaders - PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub and DAP central executive committee member P Ramasamy - have been quizzed by the police over alleged sedition.

azlan It is understood that they had touched on the ongoing Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial and recent controversies affecting the Penang government.

According to lawyer N Surendran, who is representing Sivarasa and Salahuddin, the police are investigating the duo over statements made during a Feb 7 ceramah in Seberang Jaya, Penang.

Two police personnel from the Seberang Jaya district police headquarters recorded statements from them for about an hour from 1pm, at the 14th floor of the Parliament Tower annexe in Kuala Lumpur.

Sivarasa, the Subang MP, and Salahuddin, the Kubang Kerian MP, were in Parliament to attend a briefing on the government's proposed Goods and Services Tax Bill.

Speaking to reporters later, Sivarasa revealed that they both had refused to answer any of the 18 questions posed to them.

sivarasa "I exercised my right under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code to remain silent to the questions," said Sivarasa ( right ), a practising lawyer .

He alleged that the police probe was a form of harassment to dissuade Pakatan MPs from speaking out on the sodomy trial.

"For me, this (investigation) is an attempt to threaten me, Salahuddin and my comrades from raising important issues, such as the Anwar trial and and the Altantuya (Shaariibuu murder)," he added.

'Playing out like a script'

He challenged the police to take action against him, without any form of harassment, should they think that he has vilated any law.

Sivarasa stressed that he has not broken the law by airing his views on the sodomy trial because it is his duty as an MP to share his analysis of current affairs.

"The police should focus on criminal cases like snatch thefts and robbery cases. There is no need to waste time and send a high- ranking police personnel to record our statements," he said.

salahuddin ayub 01 Salahuddin ( left ) said the spate of investigations on Pakatan MPs for sedition was playing out like a "script".

"It looks like whoever who talks about the sodomy trial during a ceramah will definitely be charged under the Sedition Act," he said.

Ramasamy, who had attended the same ceramah with Sivarasa and Salahuddin, has been questioned as well.

Penang police recorded a statement this morning from Ramasamy - the state deputy chief minister II - said his aide, when contacted. [See clarification below]

Cops busy in Penang too

Penang police have also been calling up other Pakatan assemblypersons for questioning since Sunday.

They include Penang state exco Abdul Malik Kassim (PKR-Batu Maung), PAS state commissioner Salleh Man (Permatang Pasir), Ong Khan Lee (PKR-Kebun Bunga) and Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Pantai Jerejak).

Abdul Malik said police called him on Monday about a speech he made on Feb 12 at a public forum, but refused to reveal the likely charge.

Ong was questioned on Sunday about his speech at the PKR Chinese New Year 'open house' on Feb 16.

On his Facebook , Sim said police are going to record his statement.

Penang chief police officer Deputy Comm Ayub Yaakob confirmed that about seven Pakatan representatives have been contacted to assist investigations.

However, he said new cases happen every day and that he could not provide an exact figure or the total number.

He explained that police start investigation after receiving complaints from the public.

He denied that Pakatan is being targeted by police, saying that the issue should not be politicised.

The police, he said, are only carrying out their duties professionally and according to procedure, and that this is being done within the limits of the law.

Yesterday, it was revealed that Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is facing a slew of investigations, after six police reports were lodged against him recently.

Although most of the police reports were against Lim for alleged participation in an illegal assembly, he is also being probed for sedition and criminal defamation.

Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran is facing sedition probe after he spoke about the sodomy trial during a ceramah on Jan 22 in Chenderiang Balai, Perak.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy has informed Malaysiakini that the police recorded his statements on the speeches he gave at two Pakatan Rakyat events this month.

He had spoken at Tapak Pesta Sungai Nibong on Feb 12 and Balik Pulau on Feb 18. He was however not at the Feb 7 ceramah as reported above since he was then overseas.