There is no legal basis for the MACC to arrest Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Shafie Apdal and others, said PKR lawyer-cum-lawmaker N Surendran.

The Padang Serai MP said while the MACC had a duty to carry out investigations, arrests and remands should only be carried out in limited circumstances such as when the suspect is a flight risk or could interfere with witnesses.

"In other words, the legal burden is upon the arresting authority to show why they cannot investigate without resorting to arrest and remand.

"There is no suggestion even by the MACC that Shafie is a flight risk or that he may interfere with witnesses. Therefore, what is the legal basis for his arrest?" Surendran queried in a statement today.

Shafie was arrested by the MACC last night after voluntarily turning up for questioning at their Sabah headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.

He was later brought to hospital to treat his high blood pressure, but is expected to be remanded today.

The MACC had carried out a spate of arrests - including two of Shafie's younger brothers and a number of Warisan leaders - in its probe into the alleged misappropriation of at least RM1.5 billion in rural development funds intended for Sabah.

The RM1.5 billion allegedly siphoned came from a total of RM7.5 billion in funds reportedly allocated for rural projects in Sabah over a six-year period.

MACC is probing some 60 companies that were awarded projects for the supply of water, electricity and roads to help people in rural Sabah.

Shafie held the rural and regional development ministry portfolio from 2009 to 2015. He has denied involvement in the scandal.

Meanwhile, Sabah DAP claimed that Shafie's arrest was politically motivated and designed to "intimidate and humiliate" opposition leaders.

"Those arrested in the Rural and Regional Development Ministry saga are being made to appear to be guilty, long before any investigation is completed," Sabah DAP secretary Chan Foong Hin said.

Chan further claimed that the MACC had selectively ignored corruption allegations against Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.