KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has criticised the opposition for questioning the decision to investigate Parti Pribumi Bersatu (Bersatu) President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin under the Sedition Act.
Anwar said the investigation followed a report made against Muhyiddin by the Pahang Palace.
"No need to twist it, they (opposition) know, (but) they just wants to play politics. I want to advise that this issue was raised by the Pahang Palace and in the other case, the Selangor Palace (in the sedition case of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor).
"You (the opposition) violated the law and you overstepped. You have to deal with it," Anwar said when met by reporters at the launch and groundbreaking ceremony of Residensi Suria Madani housing project, here.
He added that the police acted on the Pahang Palace's report before the Attorney-General proceeded with further actions.
Yesterday, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that several sedition cases against politicians have originated from police reports filed by palace representatives, rather than government action.
Citing the sedition charges involving Muhyiddin and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi, Fahmi said that in their cases, police reports were lodged by representatives from the Pahang and Selangor palaces, respectively.
The Bersatu supreme council yesterday also condemned what it calls the government's decision to charge its Muhyiddin with sedition.
They claimed that the charges against Muhyiddin was another example of "selective prosecution for political and nefarious reasons" aimed at putting pressure on the Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional leadership.
Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said police and the Attorney-General's Chambers had chosen to rush into prosecuting Muhyiddin without considering the "facts and evidence" from key individuals involved or scrutinising the documents he had submitted.
Muhyiddin's sedition charge comes after Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, expressed his displeasure and deep disappointment over the actions against Muhyiddin for belittling the role of the Sultan of Pahang during his tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Muhyiddin, who is also the former Prime Minister, was charged on Tuesday at the Gua Musang Sessions Court for allegedly making seditious remarks during the Nenggiri State Assembly by-election campaign on Aug 14.
Similarly in 2023, five members of the Dewan Diraja Selangor have lodged a police report against Sanusi for allegedly questioning the authority of the Selangor royal institution in the appointment of the state's Menteri Besar.