In a statement, Razarudin said two police reports were received against the former Umno leader last Friday, prompting an investigation to be opened.

“The complainants claimed that the statement was false and tarnished the image of the law and institutional reform minister (Azalina Othman Said),” he said.

He added that the classified crime investigation unit would be recording Khairy’s statement this afternoon, at the former minister’s office in Jalan Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara.

Razarudin said the investigation is being conducted under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misuse of network facilities.

Last Friday, an aide to Azalina lodged a police report against Khairy for claiming that the minister had conspired to “hide” the addendum to Najib’s pardon order.

Khairy, a former health minister, allegedly made the claim on his Keluar Sekejap podcast, which he co-hosts with former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan.

The Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division had said it did not have any additional document or addendum to the pardons board’s decision in its official files or records.

The division also said it did not receive any official order or notification from Istana Negara regarding the matter.