KUALA LUMPUR: Police are planning to record statements from Bloomberg representatives over the next few days.
This follows a police probe launched after former Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil had called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to sue Bloomberg over its report.
The media agency had reported that Anwar had allegedly instructed the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) not to investigate his former political secretary, Farhash Wafa Salvador, over the purchase of shares in a company connected to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.
Bloomberg had cited three sources familiar with the matter.
City police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa today said MACC had lodged a report over the issue, and that police had opened an investigation paper.
He said this after witnessing the handing-over-of-duties ceremony for the Cheras police chief.
"If the media agency (Bloomberg) cooperates with us, the statements can be recorded within the next two days.
"We have recorded statements from the complainant and Isham.
"Others who can help with the probe have been identified. This includes those from Bloomberg."
Police said they had recorded a statement from Isham on Tuesday.
A Malay daily reported that this was to facilitate an investigation into a statement made by Isham urging Anwar to sue Bloomberg over the financial daily's report on MACC investigations.
Isham, in a Facebook post, said Bloomberg's report could suggest that Anwar's efforts to combat corruption were mere rhetoric and that he was not practising what he preached.
Isham said it would be defamation if the claims made by Bloomberg were false.
The Prime Minister's Office refuted both reports, stating that Anwar had never issued any directive or interfered in MACC investigations.
MACC also denied the allegations.