KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 16): Police are investigating allegations that several prominent tycoons financed a plot to topple Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Malaysiakini reported today.

Quoting Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, the portal reported that an article published in Malaysia Today last week, contained serious allegations against prominent personalities.

The Malaysia Today article had alleged that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin had met the tycoons in London to discuss the plot.

"We will look into it to determine how the author obtained such information.

"The allegations are not only damaging to the reputation of these VIPs but also contain serious accusations of sabotaging the government," Khalid told Malaysiakini.

Malaysia Today, founded by Raja Petra Kamarudin alleged RM2 billion was used to buy over a "US based lobbyist and public relations group", local media portals, bloggers and people linked to Dr Mahathir and Daim.

Among the allegations was that there were plans to bribe 40 MPs from Umno, MCA, MIC and DAP with RM10 million each.

The article also accused Dr Mahathir and Daim for attacking the ringgit, blackmailing politicians and officials from government agencies to be part of their alleged plot.

Dr Mahathir has been a strong critic of Najib and has openly urged him to step down over involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and the RM2.6 billion deposited into the latter's personal account, said to be a donation from a Middle Eastern source.

Najib, however, has denied any wrongdoing.