KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — Opposition lawmaker Nurul Izzah Anwar may not have committed a crime in meeting the daughter of the man who had ordered attacks against Sabah two years ago, but her action still warrants scrutiny as it involves Malaysia’s sovereignty, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Ahmad Zahid had previously said he will seek the Attorney-General’s legal advice on how to deal with the issue.

“This is not a question of crime. This is a matter of dignity and sovereignty of the country.

“We can have difference in opinion and we can accept the difference in views. However, matters of the nation's sovereignty and dignity, there is no compromise to it,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters after speaking at the China-Malaysia High Economic Forum here.

Others have accused the PKR vice-president of treason after she was recently photographed with Jacel Kiram, including Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who yesterday likened the duo’s meeting to “declaring war” against the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Ahmad Zahid also claimed Nurul Izzah’s PKR colleague and fellow MP, Chua Tian Chang to be the man responsible for arranging a meeting with Jacel Kiram, in a bid to reconnect with the defunct Sulu sultanate.

“Tian Chua is the person behind it, he arranged the meeting. Tian Chua is responsible in subliminally trying to reconnect the Sulu sultanate,” the home minister told reporters.

He advised the Batu MP popularly known as Tian Chua to be more careful with his actions, especially when it comes to arranging meetings for leaders in his party.

“I hope Tian Chua is careful in his actions. Tian Chua should be more detailed in arranging programs for his party's leaders. He should be careful with his words.”

The daughter of jailed former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was recently photographed in the Philippines with the daughter of the late Jamalul Kiram III who had styled himself as a Sulu sultan and sought to reassert his clan’s centuries-old claim on Sabah.