The Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia was recalled this week amid controversy in Canberra over assault allegations in a police report lodged by the wife of a staff member.

According to the Australian newspaper Herald Sun today, Mohamed Arshad Hussain was removed from his office after a report in the daily last week revealed that he had been investigated by the Australian Federal Police "over an alleged common assault".

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar confirmed to Bernama that the diplomat will be transferred back after the Hari Raya celebrations.

Syed Hamid said he would decide later if Mohamed Arshad would be posted to another country, but gave no reasons for the diplomat's sudden departure after only one year in his position.