PETALING JAYA: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razaruddin Hussain dismissed claims that former Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, had been abducted, stating that such allegations were baseless.
Razaruddin said the public's understanding of Taib's whereabouts should be rectified, and investigations are ongoing to verify the claims made.
He also confirmed receiving reports from Taib's children, family members, and lawyer, alleging that he was taken from the hospital under questionable circumstances.
"Correct the facts (regarding Taib). There may be misinformation from news heard on social media. The inaccurate information did not come from the Sarawak Police Chief, the Criminal Investigation Department, or myself.
"After the investigation papers were opened, Taib went to the hospital from home due to a fever.
"It does not make sense to say he was kidnapped. His children now can visit him at Demak (Taib's official residence), where he is with his doctors and nurses," he told reporters at the press conference today.
Previously, police confirmed that they had received a report on Taib being taken out of a private hospital, where he was being warded.
Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said the incident was being probed under Section 336 of the Penal Code, under negligence which could endanger the lives of others.
The report comes after Taib's family claimed they were in the dark about his whereabouts.
His brother, Datuk Mohammad Tufail Mahmud, in a police report lodged at the Kuching central police station, also claimed the family would hold Taib's wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurti "fully accountable and responsible" if anything happened to the 87-year-old.
Tufail also alleged that Taib was "removed and abducted" by Raghad from the hospital against medical advice without consulting the intensive care unit (ICU) medical staff and without consulting and obtaining the approval of the family.
Following the claims, Raghad had on social media denied claims that she had taken her husband out of the hospital against doctors' advice.
She also called out to the public to stop all assumptions and accusations directed towards her.
In an open letter to Sarawakians on Tuesday, Raghad said her only concern was her husband's wellbeing.