KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — The Dewan Rakyat Speaker rejected today a parliamentary motion calling for the censure and removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, saying the national police chief’s actions were done for the sake of national security.

The motion was filed by Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin from PKR last Wednesday following a slew of arrests of opposition politicians and social activists under the Sedition Act 1948, as well as for their participation in street rallies. 

“I take note of the matter that you have brought up and I find that the actions taken by the Inspector-General of Police were done in accordance to his powers under the law for the purposes of national security and public harmony,” Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said in a letter to Sim, who distributed copies of the letter to the media.

“Therefore, this matter does not need to be expedited,” Pandikar added.

Sim told reporters that the “crackdown” on Pakatan Rakyat politicians showed a “disturbing” trend. 

“That’s why we put in a motion to debate the IGP’s conduct,” said the opposition MP.

Khalid, an active Twitter member, regularly uses the microblogging site to order the police to investigate individuals or groups using the Sedition Act. 

The Sedition Act was also used recently to arrest PKR MP Nurul Izzah Anwar over a speech she read on behalf of jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament, prompting concern by opposition lawmakers that they will be muzzled even within the confines of the lower house.