Congratulations to the police for bringing to book within about 48 hours several people who siphoned out more than RM3 million from the Penang government coffers.

They should also be given a pat on the back for identifying several suspects on the Malacca government's loss of about RM766,000 when about 11 cloned cheques were cashed in a scam similar to the one encountered by the Penang government.

The breakneck speed in probing the scam must have taken many people by surprise so much so their efficiency must be appreciated. The haste in their investigation could however be due to the fact that the money belongs to the government.

I wonder why the police are taking such a long time to remand those involved in the RM23 million and RM1.3 million in the National Union of Bank Employees's share scandals in 1998, and more recently the RM1.2 million siphoned out from the accounts of NUBE, belonging to its 28,000 members.