(June 15): It's not a level playing field when it comes to criticising royalty, minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today, adding however that he was ready to be questioned by police about his remarks on the Johor crown prince staying out of politics.

The culture and tourism minister said he did not have any problems with the police investigating him and would cooperate.

“I am a man of the law and will face the law. So far I have not been called. Not yet, anyway,” he told The Malaysian Insider today.

Nazri said now everybody should know that the royalty was above politics and protected by the Sedition Act.

“When the Johor prince attacked Datuk Seri Najib Razak, nothing could be done to him as he was protected by the Sedition Act. But when I defended Najib, I am hauled up. Now you know it is not a level playing field,” he said.

Nazri on June 13 ticked off the crown prince of Johor over his criticism of Najib for not showing up at the "Nothing To Hide" forum on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) which took place on June 5.

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim had made a post on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page, saying: "How can you have a dialogue called Nothing2Hide featuring a person who has everything to hide? Obviously he won't show up."

The prince is president of the Johor football club.

Nazri then told Tunku Ismail to "stay out of politics" or risk getting "whacked", as reported by The Star Online.

"Rulers and royal families are not above the law. If you want to be a politician then say so, so we can hit you back for what you say," Nazri was quoted as saying.

In what appeared to be a response, the royal then made a video of himself making a hand gesture indicating that he welcomed the challenge.

Now, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar says police will investigate Nazri under the Sedition Act 1948 over his statement warning the prince to stay out of politics.

According to news portal Malaysiakini, Khalid said police reports had been lodged against Nazri which warranted a sedition probe.

"Yes, we will investigate it under the Sedition Act," Khalid was quoted as saying.

Tunku Ismail's comments on Facebook were made June 5, the same day Najib failed to turn up at the forum of about 1,000 people after police ordered a halt, citing a security threat.

The dialogue on 1MDB, organised by non-governmental group SukaGuam, would have seen Najib taking questions on the Finance Ministry-owned debt-ridden fund. – The Malaysian Insider