Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari today had his statement recorded by the police based on an article published by Malaysiakini alleged to be seditious in nature.

Abdul Aziz's stament was taken down as he being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act for his article entitled 'Rulers flexing muscles in several states unhealthy' published on May 7 this year.

Met by reporters at the Bukit Aman police headquarters, his lawyer, Zulhazmi Shariff, said investigations were launched after a police report was lodged against Abdul Aziz by the Selangor Royal Council.

"ASP Muniandy took  down his statement. For now, we can't comment more and we will wait for further action by the police.

"But it is strange because the article was published on May 7, and it is only now that they ask for Abdul Aziz's statement.

"Maybe because he is a new DAP member, that there are certain pressures on him," quipped Zulhazmi ( photo ). Abdul Aziz had joined the DAP yesterday.

The article in question had quoted Abdul Aziz as saying the sultans of several states appeared to be establishing their powers in their speeches to their respective state assemblies.

Among these were the Johor sultan's remarks in May about the state's education system and legislation concerning his authority.

This, said Abdul Aziz's article, followed the Perak sultan's recent criticism of state assemblypersons wearing black in the assembly hall and the Selangor sultan pushing his government to complete a water deal with the federal government.

Not literal

Abdul Aziz ( photo ), who was present, said he was merely referring to the sultans' comments which were political in nature.

"It was a general comment. I said it was not proper for the Rulers to make political comments.

"If you look at the comments of others, I think they are more brutal," he said, adding that his article's title of 'flexing muscles' was not literal in nature.

Asked whether it was related to a previous case where he was questioned over an article deemed seditious against the Selangor sultan, Abdul Aziz said he was unsure as this was not the first time he was called in for his statement.

"This is may be the third or the fourth time and all are coincidentally related to the Rulers.

"It is strange that this time, the report was lodged by the Selangor Royal Council and why it took time for them  (the police) to call for my statement," he said.

"I was just commenting on the statement made by the Johor sultan. I don't know who used the term 'flexing muscles'," he said.