Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has denied allegations that there was a rift between his ministry and the police, amidst allegations that a 'third party' was meddling with police affairs.

In reply to a supplementary question by Anthony Loke (Rasah - DAP) during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat, Hishammuddin described his relationship as "fine".

hishammuddin hussien musa hassan On the apparent media war between Hishammuddin ( left ) and the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan ( right ), the minister said Musa made the remark about the 'third party' because he was asked about it during an interview.

Hishammuddin was referring to Musa's claim during an interview with Mingguan Malaysia published on Sunday, that a 'third party' was interfering with police operations.

He said that the clandestine 'third party' would issue orders to his subordinates, circumventing the top management of the police.

Met by reporters later at the Parliament lobby, Hishammuddin revealed that he had spoken to Musa recently to clarify matters.

"I called him and he said that he was responding to a question by the media," said Hishammuddin.

anthony loke Loke ( left ) however was not satisfied with the minister's reply, claiming that Hishammuddin had indirectly admitted that there was a problem between him and Musa.

"If not, where is there a need to communicate through the media? This is a clear sign there is a problem between the minister and the IGP," he said.

"This is unhealthy and it will erode public confidence in the police. Efforts to reduce crime cannot be successful if there is a third force within the police."

No laughing matter

Meanwhile, DAP's Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang demanded Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's intervention in the apparent Hishammuddin-Musa spat, which he termed a "fiasco".

"When I poke to the minister (Hishammuddin) and told him that his crack with the IGP must be mended, he joked that he would kiss the IGP on Police Day," Lim told a press conference.

"If the whole matter can be taken so lightly, then it is of no concern to anyone. But looking at history, there are often cracks at the highest level of leadership in areas concerning national security."

Describing the apparent rift as an "ugly spectacle", the veteran MP said it must be addressed immediately because the prime minister was "losing control of certain parts of his government".

Lim added that the onus was also on Musa to explain his claims over a 'third party' was issuing orders to his subordinates without the knowledge of the police top management.

"(If) he is talking about politicians and he could only mean the home minister. This very serious if he doesn't mean Hishammuddin then he must clarify," said Lim.

He added that the issue should not be allowed to drag on and suggested that a resolution could come from either Musa's or Hishammuddin's resignation.