(Nov 26): The barring of PKR MPs from entering Sabah was politically motivated and an abuse of legislative power, said one of the lawmakers affected, Chua Tian Chang said.

The Batu MP and party vice-president, better known as Tian Chua, said he was considering legal action against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi for allegations over the meeting between Nurul Izzah Anwar and Sulu representative Jacel Kiram, at which he was also present.

The Sabah state assembly today approved a motion to bar Nurul Izzah and Chua from entering the state over the meeting.

“Its an abuse of procedure to judge without giving us an opportunity to defend ourselves.

“The state legislature already decided on the punishment.

“This shows they are not even going through due process to allow us to defend and to counter the baseless allegations," he said.

He said that while it was understandable that the state held the power to restrict entry to persons, it should be based on safety or security reasons to protect the state's citizens.

Chua also said he hoped that Zahid's allegations were a “slip of the tongue” and that he would not repeat it.

The deputy prime minister had blamed Chua for having a hand in organising the gathering in which Nurul Izzah  posed for a photo with Jacel, the daughter of self-proclaimed Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, who was behind the Lahad Datu incursion in eastern Sabah in 2013.

The incursion saw a number of Malaysian armed forces personnel were killed.

“I am very sure he does not have any concrete proof and I hope he would not repeat his allegations.

“If there is a national security issue here, the Home Ministry must conduct a thorough investigation before they make judgements and allegations in public, that would be the professional thing to do,” Chua added.

Nurul Izzah, who is Lembah Pantai MP and also a party vice-president, had been criticised and accused of treason after photos of her and Jacel went viral.

One photo, which Jacel had also posted on her Facebook page, showed the two women holding posters demanding the release of Nurul Izzah’s father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, from jail where he is serving a sentence for sodomy.

Nurul Izzah is scheduled to give her statement over the matter to the police tomorrow. – The Malaysian Insider