Musa denied he had sent in a letter of resignation.

Image taken from Malaysiakini

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has denied a report by a Chinese daily that Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had tendered his resignation letter.

Describing the report as a lie, Hishammuddin said he had instructed the ministry's secretary-general Mahmood Adam to ask the newspaper editor to explain the report.

Earlier Saturday Musa had denied a report that said he had sent in a letter of resignation.

"I am shocked how such a report can be published, as if it was planned by certain quarters who have interests," Musa said.

While questioning the source used by the newspaper concerned in the report, Musa said the report had no basis whatsoever as he had not forwarded any resignation letter as reported.

"If there are any changes, I will know... I have an excellent relation with the Inspector-General of Police and his deputy," said Hishammuddin.

"It's impossible that they can resign without my knowledge".

"The report is a lie and I will take a stern action," he said.

Reports of Musa's resignation - five months before he was due to end his contract - came a day after former No 3 in the police force, Ramli Yusuff, was acquitted of failing to declare his multi-million ringgit assets.

Ramli has accused Musa himself of having links with underworld figures and the man behind his persecution, leading to him being charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and his suspension from the force.

Musa, 59, who is the eighth IGP, has served in the top post for four years since he was appointed on Sept 12, 2006.

He was given a two-year contract after he reached the compulsory retirement age in 2007.

Last year, his contract was renewed for another year.

The opposition kicked up a storm over the renewal of his contract.

A controversial figure, he was the investigation officer of the first Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case in 1998.

He was accused by Anwar of colluding with attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, who was then a senior public prosecutor, in fabricating evidence against the former deputy premier.

However, following a poice report made by Anwar two years ago, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz cleared Musa last March when he announced that an independent investigation panel found that the top cop was not involved in fabricating evidence.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry issued a show-cause letter to the China Press hours after the Chinese daily published a front-page news that inspector-general of police Musa Hassan had resigned.

"The report has been verified to be not true," the ministry said. It added that China Press had been given seven days to give a written reply to the show-cause letter which was issued under Section 8A of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301).

Under the Act, action can be taken against those responsible for publishing false news including the printer, publisher, editor and the writer. If convicted, offenders are liable to be jailed not more than three year or fined not exceeding RM20,000 or both.