Tajjuddin ( Foreign workers: M'sia o­nly defending its interests ) has got it so wrong, I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Tajjuddin seeks to justify the recent police raid o­n Indian nationals by attempting to seize the moral high ground over Iraq. In doing so, Tajjuddin o­nly demeans himself.

He demeans himself o­n the following grounds:

1) Shockingly and amazingly, he justifies the police action here by benchmarking it against how the US deals with foreigners. Does he mean that if the US can and does treat foreigners in high-handed fashion, it makes it all right for Malaysia to do so? Evidently, Tajjuddin is a US camp follower, taking his standards from them!

2) The current worldwide opposition to the US' intended war o­n Iraq is at least partly due to revulsion at the US bid to be the unpoliced policeman, acting as it sees fit, and justifying its acts with some high-sounding phrases. The people of the world have said, "No", for they are aware that unpoliced police are dangerous entities. So also, the police here need to be policed, and all talk of upholding national interests subjected to scrutiny.

The fact is, far from defending Malaysia's interests, the police have severely damaged it. There is not a whiff that any of those so awfully treated were illegal workers. In any case, even if they were illegal, that is no justification for such treatment.

In thus acting, they have brought Malaysia into disrepute, tarnished our reputation and image. They have done so in a similar fashion to how the US has managed to squander the goodwill and sympathy of the world with its own high-handedness.

Worse, in damaging our national interests - specifically, our attempt at advancing our ICT capabilities and to attract able professionals - the police may have also contributed to undermining our national security.

At this difficult juncture of world history, our economic well-being and competitiveness is all that separates us from renewed subjugation. This is something that Tajjuddin, evidently a close

follower of Dr Mahathir Mahathir, should know, since the premier has stated and re-stated this o­n countless occasions. If the Indian government freezes palm oil imports, issues an advisory to its professionals to shun Malaysia, and issues a travel advisory to its citizens, we would feel it quite immediately. India just happens to be o­ne of our largest palm oil markets, and palm oil, at this time, just happens to be the commodity that's keeping us going in these uncertain times. India is also o­ne of our more important tourist markets, in these post-Sept 11 times.

Thus, potentially, the police may have done more to threaten our national interests and national security than the ISA detainees in Kamunting.

Let Tajjuddin reflect upon that.