MCA secretary-general Chew Mei Fun has called for Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon to be investigated over the alleged misuse of Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's name.

The bungle arose when Rashid was asked by the organiser of a high-speed broadband event to read out a speech it prepared after Wan Azizah could not turn up.

Rashid said he had never represented Wan Azizah when he agreed to the unplanned speech and threatened legal action against the organiser Xiddig Cellular Communications Sdn Bhd if it did not clear his name.

In a statement today, Chew claimed that Rashid had engaged in suspected "impersonation, criminal breach of trust and power abuse".

"Rashid must be immediately suspended and investigated, so as to safeguard the sacredness of our nation’s highest legislative institution," she said.

Chew also urged Wan Azizah's office to lodge a police report over the matter.

The event was to launch the Enhanced Malaysia International Internet Gateway (EM-IIG) High-Speed Broadband project.

The EM-IIG project, developed by Xiddig Cellular Communications, is intended to provide "the fastest internet access speed with the 5G platform" through the installation of the world's largest optical fibre involving a 110,000km-long line.

The speech had said the government would provide full cooperation on the implementation of the EM-IIG project.

However, the deputy prime minister's office said this was untrue.

"Wan Azizah did not, at any time, say the government would provide its full cooperation for the implementation of the EM-IIG project.

"Using the deputy prime minister's name without her permission is not something she takes lightly.

"Organisations are warned not to use or distribute material using the deputy prime minister's name without her permission," it said.

Xiddig Cellular Communications Sdn Bhd chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahim had defended the company, claiming it had obtained permission from Wan Azizah's political secretary to use the speech text.