I refer to the Malaysiakini report, 'AG's Chambers seeks to set aside S'gor circular on MACC ' .

The Selangor MB is the chief executive officer of the state of Selangor. All state departments report to him, including the police department.

There will arise from to time issues related to overlapping policies of state vis-à-vis federal policies. A case in point is the rather audacious statement by the Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.

He declared he would not abide by the MB's directive that MACC interviews of public servants must be conducted in their offices and in the presence of legal advisers.

While Khalid officially reports to his immediate superior, the Inspector General of Police, in the state he reports directly to the Selangor MB.

It is his duty to implement the policies of the state as directed by the MB, who represents the most important executive body: The State Legislative Assembly.

Though the chief police officer may disagree with the MB's directive, the proper way would be to seek counsel from his IGP on this directive.

As this is a policy matter, the IGP, in turn, would then consult his superior, the Minister of Home Affairs, and seek the minister's advice on how to handle this new policy from the MB of Selangor.

The Attorney-General's chambers could also be referred to for advice on this issue. Until such time the police chief receives a directive to the contrary, as a senior civil servant of the state of Selangor, he should abide by the directive of the MB

That is how government administrations function in democratically elected countries. The legislature lays down policies and civil servants execute them. When a dispute over policies arises, as in the case of Selangor, let the appropriate authorities deal with the matter.

The police chief has no business interfering and giving his own interpretation of the law on policies. Until such time he receives a directive from the Home Ministry, he continues to report to the MB, the CEO of the state of Selangor

After 51 years of uninterrupted rule by one political party in some states, it is understandable for some civil servants to be ignorant of the principles of parliamentary democracy.

But there is no definitely no excuse for senior civil servants to take matters into their own hands.

The MB is the boss of the state and he has to fulfill his duties as per the expectations of the Rakyat who had democratically elected him.

Heaven forbid if precedents are allowed whereby senior civil servants countermand the directives of their state's elected Chief Executive Officer. Whither Malaysia then?