Penang police chief Hamzah Ahmad said an individual called the senator recently to ask about a claim that his bodyguard had lodged a report against him for forcing him to eat pork.

The senator filed his own police report at about 8.30pm yesterday denying the claim.

“The allegation has been denied by the (senator) while the bodyguard has also lodged a police report denying the allegation,” Hamzah said in a statement today.

He said police will seek an “order to investigate” from the deputy public prosecutor, with the investigation to be held under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation.

Separately, Hamzah said two men were arrested in Juru and Ayer Itam at 12.20am yesterday in connection with several armed robberies in the Seberang Perai Tengah district.

He said both suspects had an extensive criminal record, including for narcotics-related offences, and their arrests had resolved five cases.

They are being investigated under Section 394 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt when committing a robbery and are under remand until Oct 2.