The Home Ministry is prepared to act o­n any information provided o­n Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang's claim that police personnel in the state were abetting vice activities, said Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

Abdullah, who is also home minister, said his ministry is also willing to send a high-ranking officer from the federal police headquarters to meet the PAS president.

The deputy premier was responding to news reports which quoted Abdul Hadi as saying that he was prepared to provide the names of police personnel involved in such activities.

"If indeed he has it, I'll send an officer. Tell us and I'll send a high-ranking police officer, an investigating officer from Bukit Aman (police headquarters) to meet Abdul Hadi," the deputy minister was quoted as saying by Bernama .

On Sunday, Abdullah called o­n the PAS president, who is also the parliamentary opposition leader, to prove his allegation against the police.

Abdul Hadi responded by saying that he was prepared to accept the challenge by parties calling for proof of his allegation and warned them not to challenge him repeatedly to do so.

Stop challenges

Meanwhile, Abdullah said the issue now was not about issuing challenges and counter challenges but to establish the validity of the claim.

"When I stated that he has to prove his allegation, it was a request. There is no need for us to be issuing challenges in the press as there'll never be a solution to the problem," he said.

The deputy prime minister said the police would require the cooperation of all parties to curb vice activities.

"We don't wish to condone such activities and I hope Abdul Hadi will also not condone them. If he knows such things are going o­n, just disclose them. We're prepared to act o­n them," he said.

Individual right

When contacted, Abdul Hadi's press secretary Zahari Mohamed said the menteri besar wanted to meet the deputy premier personally about the matter.

"He wants to meet Abdullah face to face and does not wish to prolong this matter further by making statements in the press," he said.

On the news report that former Terengganu police chief Othman Talib had proposed a RM1million suit against the PAS leader for defaming the state police, Zahari said such a move was an individual right.

"If he feels that he has been slandered then he can sue. It is his right to do so but we have proof to back our claim," he said.