PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli only has himself to blame for his conviction under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Accusing the opposition lawmaker of attempting a cheap stunt for political gain, he said Rafizi however committed a serious crime in doing so.

"It is right that he pays the price - and he has only himself to blame," added the BN strategic communications director in a media statement.

Abdul Rahman also claimed that Rafizi made a career out of slandering opponents without conducting due diligence and in total disregard for the law of the land.

"This time he deliberately and knowingly broke the law.

"The police investigated, and the public prosecutor agreed there was a case. Rafizi has been tried and found guilty, which was his aim all along. He wanted to be jailed so that he could present himself as a political martyr," he said.

The BN leader also noted how Rafizi was repeatedly warned he would be breaching the OSA if he disclosed any part of the 1MDB audit report, but chose to do so anyway.

"No country can operate with people deliberately breaking the law and being allowed to get away with it.

"Does Rafizi think he is above the law? That the law applies to his constituents but not to him?" he asked.

This morning, Rafizi was slapped with an 18-month prison term for both charges, which are to run concurrently, but the court allowed a stay of execution pending appeal.

The Pandan MP was accused of possessing page 98 of the auditor-general's report on 1MDB, without authorisation, in breach of Section 8(1)(c)(iii) of the OSA.

He was also accused of disclosing the classified document without authorisation at the Parliament lobby on March 28, which is an offence under Section 8(1)(e)(iv) of the OSA.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said the law does not recognise if an individual is a MP or minister.

“Therefore, all MPs are responsible for their actions, including the statements they issue (to the media),” she added.

She said the decision in Rafizi’s case can serve as a lesson to all, including MPs, not to expose documents or government secrets which have been classified under the OSA.