Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail today denied news reports that he had directed the police to investigate malaysiakini for publishing a purported exclusive report on the impending graft charges against three ministers and a chief minister on April Fool's day.

He explained that he merely expressed his concern over the prank as he believed that serious issues like combatting corruption and prosecuting are not something to joke about.

"I did not say that... no. That wasn't exactly accurate," said Abdul Gani when asked on a news report quoting him as saying that he would ask the police to investigate the matter.

"All I said was that you (the media) have to be more responsible. We take prosecution very seriously. We don't 'joke' about it. I take offence if it is turned into a joke.

"When I say I take offence, I mean that I take it seriously. I feel bad that sending people to jail or hanging them become jokes," he told reporters after presenting a paper at the Forum on the Right to an Expeditious and Fair Trial organised by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today

However, this does not mean that he has forgotten the whole issue altogether as Abdul Gani also said that he was still considering what action to take.

"I will be looking into the matter and to what extent (the action should be). For all you know I may just speak to the person, maybe send an advice in a letter. I have not decided yet... I am considering everything under the sun."

Failure to see humour

When asked if any police report had been lodged against malaysiakini , he replied: "None that I am aware of."

The April Fool's joke created some excitement as many readers - in their eagerness to find out the identities of the four top politicians - failed to read a linked story to the main report which clearly stated that it was a mere prank.

Local dailies reported Gani's failure to see the humour in the April Fool's joke including the report by The Sun 's online version which quoted the AG as saying that he would "ask the police to look at this as this is a serious matter."

Malaysiakini had since defended its move stating that it was meant to stir a debate on the issue of corruption.

Meanwhile, Abdul Gani refused to comment on the Anti-Corruption Agency's (ACA) investigation of 18 "high-ranking individuals and decision makers".

"I have nothing to say. I have said what I said the last time. You go and check your records. I have said then that you (media) should ask the relevant people. That's all I have to say," he said.

Soon after the prosecution took Lands and Cooperative Development Minister Kasitah Gaddam and business tycoon Eric Chia to court last year for several charges of corrupt practices, the then defacto Law Minister Dr Rais Yatim revealed in April 2004 that at least another 18 high profile cases are awaiting further action by the AG's Chambers.

However, in May 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - who pledged to fight corruption when assuming the premiership - clarified that it was not 18 individuals under investigation but 18 corruption-prone sectors which needed to be monitored.