The police have opened an investigation paper under the Penal Code on an alleged attempt to topple the Malaysian government, following a revelation by Xavier Andre Justo, a former executive of Petro Saudi International.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the police would recall Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua to record his statement following his admission, as reported by the New Straits Times ( NST ) newspaper today.

"But we do not investigate based on the newspaper report, just what he (Pua) had said. We have to recall him and record his statement.

"He (Pua) had admitted that there were some things he did not mention. Since he has now remembered, we will recall him to record a statement," he told a press conference after a ceremony involving the presentation of the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara today.

A total of 136 recipients who served during the Emergency period received the medals to mark the 77th birthday anniversary of Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Abdul Rahman Abbas at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town.

The NST today frontpaged a report in which Pua admitted to introducing Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, the individual who launched a campaign to smear Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, to the senior management of The Edge Media Group.

Pua made the admission following the emergence of proof in Justo's case but at the same time insisted he had nothing to do with the leaked information or any transaction.

On another note, Khalid said he would send his officers to record a statement from former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for uttering defamatory remarks at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Asked when Dr Mahathir's statement would be recorded, he said: "We will see when Tun Mahathir is free. We will seek an appointment to see him."

- Bernama