The recent uproar over the incompetency of some police officers in the Canny Ong case brings back memories of something that happened to me two years ago.

While walking to work with a colleague, we were stopped by two plainclothes policemen who demanded to see our identity cards. When we asked them who they were and why they wanted to see our ICs, they got abusive.

I then asked to be taken to a police station so I could lodge a report against them. When we got there, my friend and I were immediately handcuffed to each other and forced to squat on the floor for at least four hours. All this simply because we were hesitant to hand over our ICs to two plainclothes officers.

I'm sure many people remember two separate incidents where innocent people were killed after being shot by the police. Their only 'crimes' (if you can call it that) were attempting to drive away when stopped by cops.

We've seen how policemen can react if they have reason to believe that their own safety is at stake. Or if they think someone could be a menace to society. I can't help but wonder if some of that 'police anger' had been directed at Canny's abductor, whether she'd still be alive today?

As it is, what we have seen of our police are usually examples of acting too little, too late or too much. So please, for the sake of the nation's well-being, get it right the next time. You can't afford to make mistakes.