FORMER inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar’s meeting with Jacel Kiram, the daughter of Jamalul Kiram III, was tantamount to treason because Jacel Kiram was regarded as the nation’s enemy.

He said treason was a serious offence and could be investigated under the Penal Code.

“I deem the plaintiff’s action (Nurul Izzah meeting Jacel Kiram) as treason because Jacel Kiram is regarded as an enemy of the nation after the intrusion of Sulu militants in Sabah in 2013.”

He was testifying in the hearing of a defamation suit filed by Nurul Izzah against him and Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, claiming that they had uttered slanderous remarks in relation to a picture of her with Jacel Kiram.

Replying to a question from senior federal counsel Normastura Ayub, Khalid said Jacel Kiram could be deemed an enemy of the country because she was the propagandist for Sulu Sultanate terrorists and the Royal Sulu Force.

He said Jacel Kiram was active and aggressive in issuing statements on Philippine social media, which, among others, denigrated Malaysia over the arrest of Sulu Sultanate terrorists who had intruded into Lahad Datu, Sabah, and condemned Malaysia and its security forces, in relation to the sultanate’s claim over Sabah.

He said Jamalul Kiram III, who claimed to be the Sulu sultan, had masterminded the Lahad Datu intrusion with his younger brother, Datu Agbimuddin Kiram.

“The intrusion resulted in shooting incidents that claimed the lives of several Malaysian security forces personnel.”

Khalid said the meeting between Nurul Izzah and Jacel Kiram had also hurt the feelings of Malaysians, particularly the families of those who died in the clashes.

“Malaysians saw the meeting as (Nurul Izzah) cosying up to the enemy.”

He said the effect on the public at the time was clear, given that more than 100 police reports were lodged across the country, objecting to the meeting.

He said when the meeting was made known to the public after it was disclosed by Jacel Kiram herself, it reminded Malaysians of the Lahad Datu intrusion, which caused anxiety, fear and dissatisfaction.

He said as the then IGP, he had issued a statement regarding the meeting in response to reporters’ queries on the incident.

“As the then IGP, I had the responsibility of clarifying that the plaintiff’s meeting with Jacel Kiram is tantamount to treason, which is within the jurisdiction of police to investigate.”

He said an investigation was initiated against Nurul Izzah in connection with the case under Section 124L of the Penal Code, which refers to an attempt to commit sabotage.

During cross-examination by counsel R. Sivarasa, representing Nurul Izzah, Khalid said based on the picture of the meeting, it was clear that it had been planned and that the presence of the two together was not a coincidence.

He said he came to know about the meeting after the picture was uploaded by Jacel Kiram on Facebook, as well as from his officers’ reports.

The hearing before judicial commissioner Faizah Jamaludin continues on Monday.

Nurul Izzah, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, filed the suit on November 26, 2015, and claimed that Khalid had uttered the slanderous remarks about her at a press conference at Bukit Aman on November 22 of the same year.

In her affidavit, Nurul Izzah said the IGP made the remarks a few days after the picture of her and Jacel Kiram made the rounds.

She also claimed that on the same day as the press conference, Bera MP Ismail Sabri had made similiar remarks about her at a press conference during a function in his constituency. – Bernama, October 19, 2017.