Datuk Sirajuddin Salleh was handed the role of the Datuk Bandar of Ipoh by the powers-that-be last December. In other words, he was not selected nor voted in by the citizenry.

There was much at hand to be seen to - collection of garbage, attending to lethal potholes, clearing clogged drains, maintaining public places of recreation, and checking the lazy and corrupt in the Ipoh Municipal Council.

But Sirajuddin believed that he had been handpicked for a much larger role. He was going to be the hand of God - the great enforcer of public morality

Things have been getting out of hand in the parks in Ipoh. There has been too many incidents of hand-holding or 'handy'-panky by courting couples. He even found a bylaw which could be applied to all offenders (whatever their religion).

To give his men some hands-on training, he sent them out hand-in-hand for their new mission...to the parks, padang ...and perpustakaan !

Surely, this new code of morality - hands-free courting - would give BN an upper hand over PAS. He would be handing Ipoh on a platter to the ruling coalition this coming elections.

Furthermore, it would no doubt earn him handsome recognition from his superiors. It would come in handy for some future non-elected political appointment when his terms ends.

But there was an uproar in Ipoh. Many citizens told Sirajuddin to keep his hired hands to himself and to put his hands where they should be.

The mayor very quickly washed his hands (off the matter) and changed his tune when he received a clear 'hands-off' message . He declared that simple hugging or holding hands are not offences under the Ipoh Municipal Council Bylaw 1985 on parks ( The Star , June 8, 2003).

He added that the bylaw only applied to couples who engage in indecent behaviour in parks such as excessive hugging, groping or kissing.

"Common sense says that it is not wrong to hold hands," he told reporters.

'Common sense' was very uncommon amongst his officers who began issuing many a summons (more than 30) over the past months.

"My enforcement officers are professionals and they know their work," he insisted.

If his officers are so 'professional' why would Perak Mentri Besar Mohd Tajol Rosli issue a directive for the council to cease taking action against courting couples?

Sirajuddin also said, in general, most people would not admit they have done something wrong, just as thieves would not own up (to stealing). He urged those couples who repeatedly denied they had engaged in improper behaviour after being issued summonses to "tell the truth".

Perhaps it is Sirajuddin who should be telling the truth behind his high-handedness. His handiwork has been carried worldwide by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently declared that Malaysians who have had a hand with foreigners in discrediting the country are a disgraceful lot ( The Star , June 9).

Should credit be given to those who discredit the country on their own?