Malaysian police probe alleged plot to topple government

PETALING JAYA – The Malaysian police have confirmed that they have received a report and opened an investigation into allegations of a conspiracy to topple the government and sabotage national stability.

Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said on Feb 27 that the probe centres on claims that a local influential figure was working in collaboration with an international media agency.

A prominent family is said to be behind the alleged plot. The family, currently embroiled in a lawsuit, had allegedly engaged a media consulting firm based in England to launch a smear campaign against the government and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He did not identify the individual or the media outlet, but Madam Na’imah Abdul Khalid, the widow of the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, has since issued a statement dismissing her involvement in this matter, while the police visited Bloomberg’s office in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 26.

A copy of the police report, which has been spreading on social media, shows it was made at the Brickfields police station in Kuala Lumpur at 10.30am on Feb 26.

The police report shows that an editor filed the police complaint after reading a foreign news agency report on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki.

The editor claimed that he had met a member of the family concerned to discuss the possibility of collaborating on a biography and a documentary. He was then invited to a Zoom meeting where the issue of attacking the government was discussed. He said he then decided not to pursue the collaboration.

In her statement, Madam Na’imah described the claims that she is involved in a bid to topple the government as laughable, false and preposterous, and that she read the police report with “great surprise”.

“The claim that I am trying to destabilise or topple the government is laughable.”

She added: “The individual who lodged the report approached me and offered his services in July 2025 as part of a proposed communications team.

“(His services were) terminated due to his poor performance, but (he) attempted to make further monetary demands. Clearly, this is the conduct of a disgruntled man.”

Madam Na’imah further took aim at the timing of the report, claiming that it came seven months after the individual had met her, and on the heels of allegations against the MACC.

She alleged the situation pointed to a “desperate attempt” to distract from growing calls to remove the person Datuk Seri Anwar trusted to lead MACC, referring to chief commissioner Azam.

“The claim I am trying to destabilise or topple the government... brings to mind past accusations of toppling the government faced by the Prime Minister himself, when he used to declare having the ‘formidable numbers’ to seize power,” Madam Na’imah said.

She added that she reserved all her legal rights in respect of the allegations, which she called false and damaging.

Meanwhile, the police visited Bloomberg’s office at the Petronas Twin Towers, reportedly in connection with investigative reports on the MACC and its chief commissioner.

In a media report, sources said officers asked for Tom Redmond and Niki Koswanage, who authored two articles published in February.

The reports detailed allegations of abuse of power and extortion within the MACC, as well as Tan Sri Azam’s alleged links to individuals described as part of a “corporate mafia”.

However, there has been no official confirmation from the police regarding the purpose of the visit to Bloomberg’s office.

The Star has reached out to the police for confirmation regarding the alleged visit and is awaiting a response.

Insp-Gen Mohd Khalid said the investigation into the police report was being handled by the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit of the federal police’s Criminal Investigation Department’s Prosecution and Law Division. He said the case is being investigated under Section 124B of the Penal Code for engaging in activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Those found guilty can be imprisoned for up to 20 years.

“Investigations are ongoing, and the public is advised not to speculate on the case while police complete their probe, in line with the principles of criminal justice in this country,” Insp-Gen Mohd Khalid said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK