In a Facebook post, Latiff said Rafizi’s allegations, including that he had a wife who was linked to two companies involved in the misappropriation of funds in the project, was aimed at smearing his reputation and inciting the people against him.

He was referring to Rafizi’s naming of a woman, Zainab Salleh, mentioned in a forensic audit report on the project.

Latiff has repeatedly denied the woman was his wife and has challenged Rafizi to prove that he was married to Zainab.

In his post, Latiff uploaded a photo of the police report that was lodged by his special officer at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters yesterday.

“I hope the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will investigate and prosecute Rafizi and those who are working in cahoots with him,” he said.

Latiff previously said he had no role to play in the LCS contract in 2014, as he was deputy defence minister only from 2009 to 2013.

The contract calls for the construction of six frigates for the navy in the RM9 billion LCS programme. A parliamentary committee has said none of the ships has been completed or delivered despite the expenditure of RM6.08 billion so far.

He has also said his family members did not benefit from any defence contracts when he was deputy minister.