In a resent article carried in The Star newspaper, the Inspector General of Police Norian Mai was quoted as saying: "We can raid any premises, including houses, if they are used to store illegal items."

The implication of the statement has made me wonder if we are heading towards a police state.

Though the recent crackdown on VCD piracy and pornography is to be commended, I am sure many fair-minded citizens are against the police entering private homes without first getting a court order. With reliable information, surely the police can seal off the house while getting the warrant.

The public's confidence in the integrity of the police is now at an all-time low and any extra powers for the purpose of checking criminal activities that are not life-threatening should be discouraged.

Many people are wondering why the sudden efficiency in this fight against illegal VCD producers and traders. Is it more because of pornography or is it to prove to the world that we are serious in safeguarding intellectual property?

If we are worried about the falling foreign direct investments, then the anti-West rhetoric of our leader is just as responsible, if not more.

Having read the horror stories of those unfortunate people under detention, can we trust the police with absolute powers? Who is to check if they plant incriminating evidence to justify their raid? To prevent some black sheep policemen causing unnecessary hardship to innocent people, I rather the police use more reasonable measures.

In spite of the acknowledgement that the police do not have enough manpower, the use of their thinly spread facilities to carry out such raids as opposed to the patrolling of streets to prevent snatch thieves and burglaries, seems unjustifiable and inexcusable.