State police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor said this was because Othman made the statement during the state assembly sitting and he was protected under the laws governing it.

"Any matter revealed during the sitting by any assemblyman, including the speaker, is protected under the rights and privileges," he said yesterday.

According to the laws governing the state assembly, members can speak on any public-related issues under the freedom of speech as provided for by the State Legislative Assembly Ordinance (Privileges, Immunities and Powers), and the regulations of the state legislative assembly.

Mazlan said this when asked about a police report lodged by DAP's Goh Leong San, Kesidang assemblyman, alleging that Othman had seen a semi-nude picture of Wong but then deleted it.

Goh had lodged the report at the Melaka Tengah police station on Friday.

Goh said the report was based on the "confession" by Othman at the Malacca state assembly on Tuesday that he had seen the photograph before deleting it.

The incident was said to have happened at 11.40am when the house resumed sitting after the morning tea break.