In a brief statement, the ministry said it was also conducting an internal investigation into the matter.

The ministry said that the two-minute 15-second clip, which is making the rounds on social media, was “meant to create confusion”.

“The internal probe and the police report are meant to protect the interest and the image of the foreign ministry.”

In the audio clip, a man was heard complaining to a “Datin” about the problems the ministry faced and alluded to the growing number of vacancies at Malaysian missions abroad.

The leaked audio clip comes in the wake of reports that two Malaysian diplomats were recalled for allegedly failing to make proper arrangements for Ismail’s visit to the United Arab Emirates last month.

The move drew criticisms from former foreign minister Anifah Aman and a former diplomat, among others, who said that a group of former ambassadors would write to Wisma Putra to protest its handling of the debacle.