When Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had to take off his shoes for inspection at an American airport, there were cries of indignation from Malaysians. We demanded courtesy, perhaps because he was our VIP.

When International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz resisted her luggage from being sniffed by police dogs in Australia, she threw up a fuss and demanded courtesy.

When a misbehaving Tan Sri was accosted by airport security in New York, he expressed indignation at the treatment.

All Malaysians know that the authorities in those countries were just doing their jobs, and yet we complained. I did wonder why.

After the recent incident at Palm Court condominum where our police allegedly roughed up Indian expatriates when trying to determine if they were illegals, I found the answer to my question.

We had expected the uniformed units of other countries to be like ours, i.e. treat the rich and powerful with velvet gloves but treat others like outcasts.

I look forward to the day the when such operations include the nightspots in Bangsar. Don't be surprised at just how many of the Caucasians frequenting these places are working in this city illegally.

Will that ever happen? I guess not. Not unless o­n a wrong day o­ne of them wrongly steps o­n the feet of the well-connected.

I do wonder if something like that happened at Palm Court. Maybe not. I hope not. Will we ever know? Definitely not.