Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Cabinet had decided on this, adding that the committee would be led by Chief Secretary to the Government Zuki Ali.

He said it would not be difficult to verify the matter as a video of the alleged incident was available.

“The committee needs to call witnesses and then make a decision,” he told reporters when asked how long it would take for the committee to complete the probe.

The prime minister said they had to be fair to all the parties involved and would leave it to the committee to conduct its own investigation.

Ismail added that he would also leave it to Zuki to decide on who should be appointed to the committee.

In the Aug 3 incident, an immigration officer on duty was allegedly berated in public by Shafiq because no officers were stationed at the VIP room’s counter when the official arrived.

JPA later dismissed reports that he had verbally abused the officer, adding that the claims were baseless and malicious and aimed at tarnishing his image.

Home minister Hamzah Zainudin had also instructed immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud to carry out an investigation to “get a clear picture” of the incident.