Wan Saiful said he was unsure why he had been called in, and questioned whether the move was an attempt to link the opposition to the issue.

He also criticised the investigation under Section 124B of the Penal Code – which relates to activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy – calling it an abuse of power by the unity government.

Wan Saiful claimed that a Hansard entry dated April 17, 2012 quoted a minister as saying that such activities refer to “violent, unconstitutional activities aimed at toppling the democratically elected parliamentary institution”.

“How can media reports or public campaigns then be classified as activities ‘detrimental to parliamentary democracy’? Will public campaigns by politicians or political parties, or criticism of the government published by the media, be criminalised under this government?

“Such actions can have a serious impact on media freedom, as media practitioners risk being investigated under this section,” he said.

Wan Saiful said he was informed that several academics and NGO members had also been summoned by the police.

Bukit Aman previously announced that it was investigating claims of an attempt by unnamed persons to overthrow the government and threaten national stability, based on a police report.

The report alleged that members of a prominent family engaged a UK firm to exert pressure on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim with the help of international media.

Daim’s widow Naimah Khalid has denied claims that she was involved in an attempt to destabilise the government, calling them “false and preposterous”.

Members of Daim’s family and their lawyers also filed a suit seeking to stop the investigation, arguing that the probe was unlawful, unconstitutional and carried out with improper motives.