Malaysian opposition leader faces sedition probe for allegedly insulting sultan - AP

By Julia Zappei, AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - A Malaysian opposition figure faced a police probe for alleged sedition Friday after he was accused of insulting a state sultan.

Karpal Singh, chairman of the Democratic Action Party, sparked an uproar when he claimed earlier this week that Sultan Azlan Shah, the titular head of northern Perak state, acted beyond his authority by interfering with the firing of a religious official.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said late Thursday that police must investigate Karpal for making comments that upset many people and were "seditious and insulting" to the sultan.

Karpal, a prominent lawyer and member of Parliament, denied being disrespectful to Azlan and insisted he would not retract his remarks.

"I stand by what I have said," Karpal told The Associated Press. "What I've said is purely a legal matter."

Karpal claims Azlan had no right to recently reinstate a state religious department chief who was fired by an opposition alliance that wrested control of Perak and four other states in March general elections.

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