KEMAMAN, March 13 (Bernama) -- Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has denied a report by a Chinese daily that Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had tendered his resignation letter.

Describing the report as a lie, Hishammuddin said he had instructed the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam to ask the newspaper editor to explain the report.

"If there are any changes, I will know... I have an excellent relation with the Inspector-General of Police and his deputy.

"It's impossible that they can resign without my knowledge. The report is a lie and I will take a stern action," he told reporters after opening the Maulidur Rasul celebration for the Kemaman parliamentary constituency here today.

The 7km procession around Chukai town was also participated by Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek who is Kemaman member of parliament and about 405 contingents comprising 3,000 participants.

Commenting further, Hishammuddin said he knew everything about the top leadership of the Royal Malaysia Police as a department is under his ministry.

He said any changes involving the force's top leadership would be determined by the government involving the prime minister and himself as the minister in charge and consented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and not by speculations in the media.

"This is not the first time that the purported resignation of the IGP becomes an issue. Last year there was also a speculation to that effect, so why should I entertain this?

"They should be held responsible (for the report) and I'm warning China Press not to publish reports which are not true," he said.

Hishammuddin said Musa was still carrying out his duties as usual and that his contract would expire in September.

He admitted however that there would be changes involving the force's top leadership in the near future following the retirement of four department directors.

"Within the next six months until September, there will be changes. We will make the announcement," he said.

Hishammuddin said he had obtained feedback from the force on the change.

"We should see a new chapter in the police force," he said.