‘Best platform for Nurul Izzah to explain’

(The Star) – Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee is the best platform for Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar to explain her meeting with Sulu “princess” Jacel Kiram, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“I want to tell her not to be too sensitive and emotional.

“The rights committee is the best place (to explain) because it consists of representatives from both sides of the political divide,” she said when interviewed in her office at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department had earlier tabled a motion to refer Nurul Izzah to the Rights and Privileges Committee.

The motion is expected to be tabled on Dec 3.

Nurul Izzah had said yesterday that she would face any possible action against her “with a clear conscience”.

The PKR vice-president had created controversy when photos of her with Jacel at a dinner function in the Philippines went viral on social media.

She and Batu MP Tian Chua had gone to the Philippines to meet political stakeholders there.

Both have since apologised and Tian Chua claimed they did not realise that it was Jacel who took photos with Nurul Izzah.

Meanwhile, MCA publicity bureau chairman Datuk Chai Kim Sen said PKR leaders were taking the people for fools by coming up with lame excuses for Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua.

“More than 90 police reports have been lodged, mostly from Sabah.

“This proves that the meeting has hurt and angered Sabahans. Instead of apologising, Tian Chua tried to cover it up by insulting the police,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Chai criticised Tian Chua, saying that as a Malaysian MP, he should not have done anything that might seem to lend support to the Sulu claim over Sabah.

In Kota Kinabalu, a crowd of people gathered outside the state assembly as early as 8am yesterday to protest against Nurul Izzah and Tian Chua.

“It is an impromptu gathering,” said Sabah Pro Barisan Nasional (Pro-BN) president Zulkarnain Mahdar.

Pro-BN is an NGO.

He said the act of mixing with enemies behind the 2013 Lahad Datu intrusion should not be forgiven as many policemen and soldiers had died in the bloody incident.

He said they hoped that the state government would take immediate steps to bar the entry of the two PKR MPs into Sabah.