KUALA LUMPUR: A powerful Malaysian royal family called yesterday for former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to face a sedition probe for allegedly insulting an ethnic group from which they claim descent, reports AFP. During a rally last month against a massive financial scandal embroiling the current government, Mahathir had said Prime Minister Najib Razak was descended from “Bugis pirates”. Political tensions are rising in Malaysia, with Mahathir—who was premier for 22 years—seeking to oust Najib at elections that must be called by August.

The Bugis are a seafaring ethnic group that come neighbouring Indonesia.  Large numbers migrated to Malaysia, and many in the country claim Bugis ancestry.

The comments sparked anger among Malaysians with Bugis ancestry and Mahathir later reportedly insisted that the remarks were directed at Najib, not the community. Sharafuddin Idris Shah—the Sultan of Selangor, one of Malaysia’s wealthiest states—met with his ruling council Thursday over the issue.