KUALA LUMPUR: Hours after releasing a statement saying that Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang was being investigated for calling Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was an Israeli agent, police have retracted it.
Instead, they said it is Baling member of parliament Hassan Saad who is being investigated.
Federal police secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin, who had ealier issued the statement on Hadi, said police have opened an investigation against Hassan for accusing the prime minister of an Israeli agent.
Noorsiah said police are investigating Hassan after they received police reports on the accusation he levelled at the newly appointed PM.
"We confirm receiving reports on the matter and investigation is being conducted by the Classified Crime Investigation Unit (USJT), Prosecution/Legal Division (D5), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bukit Aman," she said in a brief statement.
She said the department has initiated an investigation under Section 504 and Section 500 of the Penal Code for intentionally insulting and for I'll intent to defame a person.
"He will also be investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998," she said.
Earlier today, PKR Putrajaya Youth division lodged a police report and urged the police to investigate allegations portraying its party president as an Israeli agent.
Its chief, Syazreen Ezam Saidi, said the allegations were not only baseless but also touched on racial and religious sentiments.
"This sort of accusation will tarnish Anwar's reputation and Malaysia's sovereignty," he said after lodging the report today.
The allegations had been circulating since Anwar's appointment as prime minister on Nov 24.
Hassan had also allegedly claimed that Anwar was made PM with help of Israel who have their own agenda for the country.
Meanwhile, it is understood that Anwar has sent a letter of demand through his lawyers to Hassan, seeking an apology and retraction from the Pas man within three days, failing which legal action will be taken.