Explain yourself, Nurul Izzah told

MPs from both sides of the political divide have questioned the posting on social media of pictures of PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar with the daughter of the late self-proclaimed Sulu sultan who ordered the invasion of Sabah.

This came as Malaysians reacted with anger and horror at the killing of Bernard Then by Abu Saayaf kidnappers and the Lembah Pantai MP may now find herself fa­­cing the Parliament’s Rights and Privileges Committee.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said the meeting seemed like an “invitation for foreign elements to interfere in the country’s national affairs”.

“She has also violated her oath as a par­liamentarian of being loyal to the country,” Azalina claimed.

“The Government is studying if she should be referred to the committee.”

Pictures of Nurul Izzah with Princess Jacel H. Kiram Hasan – whose father sent 200 men to invade Sabah in 2013 – holding up “Release Anwar Immediately” posters had gone viral.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said it was not appropriate to post the picture in light of Then’s recent beheading.

“Although we should not condemn the Sulu princess for her late father’s act, Nurul Izzah should not have posted their photos as some Sabahans would have been hurt by it,” said Stephen Wong Tien Fatt (DAP-Sandakan).

Expressing his shock, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said Nurul Izzah was duty bound to provide answers.

“Please ask her what really happened and what transpired between the two as we Malaysians are eager to know,” he said.

Jimmy Wong (DAP-Kota Kinabalu) said Nurul Izzah should explain considering the sensitivity of the situation.

“I know some of these things are unavoidable but there is no need to post the picture on social media,” he said.

Calling for an apology, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan tweeted: “For Nurul Izzah to cosy up and see someone who publicly declared supporting armed intrusion in Sabah is unacceptable.”

In a statement, Nurul Izzah said the list of those attending the meeting was decided by various Filipino authorities, including the office of the country’s vice-president.

She said she went to the Philippines on Nov 9 with Batu MP Tian Chua as part of a delegation to meet political stakeholders in the country.

“In the meeting, I stressed our support for the Malaysian government’s initiatives in peace negotiations in southern Philippines.

“I wish to reiterate my support in defen­ding the sovereignty of Sabah as part of the Malaysian federation,” she said.