Umno secretary general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has urged his Batu Kawan chief not to be influenced by the opposition and the internet on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), and withdraw the police report lodged.

He was reported telling Astro Awani yesterday that Batu Kawan chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan was being "childish" and "unfair", claiming the Penang leader failed to understand the "party's struggle" and the issues surrounding the embattled investment body.

"This is the problem when Umno members do not understand the party struggle. We cannot listen to stories on the web, internet or social media," he was reported saying.

"Don't swallow all sorts of false perceptions from the opposition," he told the news channel, adding he "didn't understand" why Khairuddin ( right ) lodged the police report on Friday.

Khairuddin demanded police investigate 1MDB, Prime Minister Najib Razak's pet project, over issues of transparency following growing criticism - from both Pakatan Rakyat MPs and from prominent Umno leaders like former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad - of the company's operations and finances.

Yesterday Bernama reported Penang Umno distancing itself from Khairuddin and calling for disciplinary action against the leader.

Tengku Adnan said he has discussed the matter with the Penang chapter and said he will weigh whatever action is recommended, saying Khairuddin has yet to be shown to have contravened any party ethics.

He added he plans to meet with Khairuddin to ask him to withdraw the police report.

In the article, Tengku Adnan was further quoted urging other Umno members to discuss any concerns with 1MDB with the party leadership instead of listening to the opposition.

"Why should we fall into the trap of opposition's lies?" he was quoted saying.

DAP: Why fear probe?

Meanwhile DAP Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo today challenged Tengku Adnan to support the police investigation if 1MDB has done no wrong.

"It is strange but I would have thought that Tengku Adnan would have welcomed a full and open investigation into the matter, particularly given the public interest element involved in this case.

"If there has been no wrong, nobody needs to be afraid," said Gobind in a statement.

"I challenge him to support the investigation," he added, saying the PM should also come out in the open to support a full, open and transparent investigation.

Gobind stressed that a police report "cannot be taken lightly" and therefore should not be withdrawn once it is lodged.

"Unlike other countries, in Malaysia, once a police report is lodged, the police must investigate it.

"The question of withdrawing it does not arise. A complainant cannot dictate terms to the public prosecutor.

"If the complainant cannot substantiate the contents of his police report or refuses to cooperate, action may be taken against him as well," he said.

Given the nature of the police report and its immense public importance, he said, the police and attorney-general must not to back down.

"They cannot and must not sit back and do nothing. They must act," he said, adding that any attempt to interfere with investigations should be punished.