KOTA KINABALU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysian police is investigating a top leader of Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) over an alleged threat made against the state's Governor, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

The police comes amid an unusual situation in the East Malaysia state with two men claiming to be Sabah's Chief Minister.

Mr Juhar, as Sabah's head of state, sworn-in Musa Aman as head of Sabah BN, as Chief Minister on May 10.

This was a day after the chaotic May 9 general election that toppled BN from federal power in Malaysia.

Malaysia's 13 states are governed separately by the political party or alliance with the most seats in the state assembly.

BN in Sabah on May 10 had 31 seats in the 60-member state legislature.

But a day later, several BN assemblymen jumped over to an alliance cobbled by rival Parti Warisan Sabah, effectively toppling BN.

Warisan now has 35 seats and BN's total was reduced to 25.

Mr Juhar on May 12 swore in Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as Chief Minister, as his pact has the most number of state-assembly seats.

But Tan Sri Musa claimed he remains the rightful chief minister and has refused to step down despite being issued a letter to do so by the governor.

Mr Musa has now filed a writ of summons against Mr Juhar and Mr Shafie to contest the claim over the post in court.

Mr Juhar is believed to have lodged a police report against Mr Musa following the swearing-in.

Sabah police commissioner Datuk Ramli Din confirmed that Mr Juhar had lodged a report against Mr Musa, but declined to comment further.