Our police are hardly an inspiring lot. The new Dang Wangi police chief, Hadi Ho Abdullah has warned the bereaved mother of 24-year-old P Vivashanu whose decomposed body was found in the Klang river, against filing a criminal defamation suit. He was last known to be in police custody although police claimed that he managed to get away.

The Irene Fernandez trial of 'false news' is still going on. She was so charged after she made a report of deaths at a migrant detention centre.

Now it's criminal defamation against those who dare to lodge reports of suspected police foul play.

I think our police have been taking notes from the Singapore police force. Who knows, police might next charge those coming to police stations in support of those who are arrested or who are making reports, for wilful 'trespass' at a police station.

The decent thing to do (one wonders if this is at all a word understood by our police in all the languages of this land) is to at once attend to such a complaint from families who have lost their loved ones in police custody. Ini barulah 'bersih, cekap dan betul', kan? (This is 'new, efficient and correct', right?)

Police are instead acting on the defensive and have resorted to 'threats' of prosecution. We pay them to investigate, not to sue or charge the hand that feeds them.

I think we need to address this matter in Parliament in the next sitting in September. This is Pak Lah's jurisdiction as home minister. Surely he must at least try to clean up the mess before he becomes prime minister? The police mess began with that infamous 'black eye' incident.

Pak Lah cannot leave the matter to Suhakam, as he well knows Parliament refuses to even consider its reports. Jangan main api, tuan, nanti rakyat boikot pilihanraya (Don't play with fire, Sir; the citizens may boycott the general election).