The police today said they have not received any information of a Malaysian factory being involved in nuclear weapons technology transfer to Libya, Iran and North Korea as reported by the international media.

Bukit Aman federal police headquarters public relations officer Jasman Junaidi said an investigation would be launched in the event such information is relayed to them.

"We have not received anything yet. If we were to get such information, it would be through Interpol. If it is through Interpol, we will investigate it," he added when contacted.

According to foreign press reports, Pakistan's sacked nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan (photo) had claimed in his confession that the unauthorised nuclear technology transfer involved a Malaysian factory that reconditioned Pakistani centrifuge parts.

The centrifuges were used for enriching uranium, which can be used for nuclear reactors or fissile material for bombs.

According to Los Angeles Times , a diplomat in Vienna said that the plant was involved in the gas and oil industry and was part of a larger company which he did not know.

On Jan 31, Abdul Qadeer was sacked from his post as scientific adviser to President Pervez Musharraf after confessing to investigators that he leaked nuclear secrets to other countries.

Meanwhile, Home Ministry public relations officer Hafidz Othman when contacted said that Malaysia had already denied the allegations and that there was "no such thing".

Probe claims

Commenting on the matter, the president of the international physicians for the prevention of nuclear war RS McCoy called on the government to launch an extensive probe into the claims.

He said there were reports which stated that Malaysian-made parts for centrifuges were intercepted in Dubai en route to Libya and that a specific factory here was being investigated by US and International Atomic Energy Agency officials.

He added there were also reports which claimed that a Sri Lankan national, who acted as a middleman, was in custody here.

"The government of Malaysia must vigorously investigate and address all allegations of Malaysia's involvement in this clandestine supply network, as there has never been any suspicion in the past of its nuclear ambitions.

"On the contrary, the Malaysian government has consistently been a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament," stressed the Malaysian physician in an email communique to malaysiakini.

McCoy added that he would be writing to the Foreign Affairs Ministry to call for a full investigation.

Allegations denied

In a related development , CNN today reported that the Pakistani nuclear scientist had denied signing any confessions along with the allegations of nuclear technology transfer.

The denial was made via Qazi Hussain Ahmad, who heads Pakistan's largest Islamic party Jammat-e-Islami, who claims that Abdul Qadeer was his friend and that they spoke on the telephone.

"He has clearly denied it, that he has never transferred the technology and he has never given any statement or confession," Ahmad said.

Contacted later, Pakistani high commission first secretary Ameer Ksuram Rathor was unable to verify the authenticity of the allegations and counter allegations in the media.

"I don't think the confessions has been made public to the press," he said.

He added that eight person are being investigated over the issue by the Pakistani authorities and that the high commission is waiting for the outcome.

"The president is expected to speak on the issue to the whole nation shortly. However, until the investigation has been completed, nothing is concrete," said Ameer.