The government will investigate an open letter from a former senior police officer, Mat Zain Ibrahim, alleging that attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail had a role in the black-eye incident involving Anwar Ibrahim about 12 years ago.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mohamed Nazri Aziz, said the cabinet at its meeting on Nov 12 had instructed him and Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim to meet Abdul Gani for clarification over the allegation before taking further action.

"Right now we are waiting for Abdul Gani to return from Mecca," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

In his open letter to inspector-general of police Ismail Omar on Monday, Mat Zain referred to the motion tabled by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Nov 9 to have the AG's salary cut by RM10.

He also confirmed of having sent an e-mail on April 14 to Lim, who is also the DAP adviser, on the matter.

- Bernama