The police investigation on Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is illegal, unconstitutional and is a serious interference with the rights and privileges of Parliament.

Padang Serai MP N Surendran said Nurul Izzah cannot be charged over anything said in Parliament “unless they question forgoing ‘sensitive’ matters.”

He added that Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must be held responsible for the interference with the Dewan Rakyat and he should explain why such an investigation was sanctioned.

“Article 63(2) of the federal constitution confers immunity from any proceedings in court for anything said by an MP in the Dewan Rakyat.

“Subsequent to the May 13 1969 riots, the constitution was amended to include a new Article 63(4). Article 63(4) provides an exception to the immunity under 63(2) for words uttered by MPs which fall under the Sedition Act 1948.

“But this exception under 63(4) is limited. Action can only be taken against MPs for words uttered which fall under section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act 1948 ie, on citizenship, the position of rulers, national language or special position of the Malays,” the lawyer said in a statement today.

Surendran asserted that Nurul Izzah’s speech did not touch on any matters prohibited by Section 3(1)(f) of the Sedition Act, thus the investigation must be dropped immediately.

“Thus, no action or criminal proceedings can be commenced or maintained against her for criticisms of the judiciary.

“(Inspector-general of police) Khalid Abu Bakar and the state police chief are thus in contempt of the Dewan Rakyat for initiating a criminal investigation under the Sedition Act against Nurul Izzah,” he stressed.

In a Dewan Rakyat sitting last Tuesday, Nurul Izzah read out a portion of her father, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s speech as her own.

The speech saw her criticising the judges who convicted Anwar.

Insisting that her speech was “attacking the judiciary” and was seditious in nature, former Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin ( left ) lodged a report against her last Friday.

The police then visited the PKR’s vice-president’s home in less than 24 hours after the report was made and have asked her to record her statement today at the Dang Wang district police headquarters.

She will be investigated under the Sedition Act.

Surendran added that the speaker of the Dewan Rakyat “in his capacity as chairperson of the committee of privileges”, must initiate an immediate inquiry “into the blatant breach of parliamentary privilege” by the police.