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

"The report has been verified to be not true," the ministry said in a

statement to Bernama .

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).

chinapress reported musa hassan quits 130310 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.

The news report published today had said that Musa would retire on Police Day on March 25 and would be succeeded by his deputy, Ismail Omar.

Quoting a source, the report further said Prime Minister Mohd

Najib Razak and Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had

received the letter.

Both Musa and Hishammuddin had denied any truth in the report.