The 40-year-old woman claimed that she was pushed by her partner, a 37-year-old senior police officer.

Penang police chief Khaw Kok Chin said that the woman, who works in a factory, claimed that her partner had pushed her after an argument at the bridge.

“She was not injured. Police will record statements from witnesses at the incident to aid the investigation.

“We have opened an investigation paper under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder, but we still have to record statements from both of them to determine whether the woman’s allegation is true,” Sinar Harian reported Khaw as saying in a press conference.

Khaw said that the man was receiving treatment at a hospital for an injury to his head.

“The police will record his statement soon. Checks revealed that the officer is involved in a criminal case that is still under investigation under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt in a recent incident in the Timur Laut district,” he said.

Khaw also said that witness statements were needed before police could decide whether they should detain the man.

The incident at 7.49pm on Monday saw the couple saved by a passer-by, who dived in and pulled them onto a fisherman’s boat.