“I take the matter seriously,” Azhar said after opposition MPs voiced concern over an investigation by police into a speech made in the Dewan Rakyat by Azis Jamman (Warisan-Sepanggar) on his concerns about growing seccession calls within Sabah.

Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) raised the matter under Standing Order 36 (10), saying Azis’ speech had not been objected to in the House and that the Speaker himself had not stopped the MP from continuing his speech.

Lim said the action by police to summon Azis was an intimidation of MPs who had the right to raise issues and public concerns in Parliament.

“He (Azis) did not call for Sabah to leave Malaysia. He was voicing out what people in Sabah were saying,” he said.

Lim said the same issue had been raised by the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah but no action had been taken against it, whereas Azis was being investigated.

He said the police needed to refer the matter to the Speaker before taking any action.

“This is not fair to MPs,” he said, urging Azhar to stand up for the rights of MPs.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said MPs were usually referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee of Parliament if they were accused of being in the wrong.

“But intimidating MPs for voicing opinions in the House creates a dangerous precedent,” he warned, adding that he had read the speech made by Azis and did not find it a treasonable offence.

Azhar then asked Azis to explain the matter.

Azis said he was shocked when police summoned him over a speech he had made in the House.

“(In my speech) I raised concerns about what is happening in Sabah. If we want to save Malaysia, we need to implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963.”

Azis said he had merely voiced the sentiments of Sabahans on social media about leaving Malaysia if Sabah continued to be sidelined. He further said that in Sarawak voices were already raised about leaving Malaysia.

Azhar then said he would read the text of Azis’ speech to get a clearer picture.