Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir has given Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak until 1pm Wednesday to apologise.

Failing which, he reserves the right to take all necessary legal action.

This was stated in a notice of demand from Mukhriz which was received by the Prime Minister's Office this afternoon.

Mukhriz's lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla confirmed with Malaysiakini that a notice had been sent and received by Najib's office.

"Our client views that the statement was calculated by Najib to interfere with Mukhriz's defamation case against (the prime minister's press aide) Tengku Shariffuddin Tengku Ahmad which begins Thursday...