The arrest of the walkathon participants last Sunday is surely yet another record-breaking feat by our law enforcers ([#1] Walkathon participants treated like 'criminals' [/#], Feb 20).

Can anyone in his or her right mind imagine the police arresting people participating in a harmless walkathon and treating them like criminals (as claimed by those arrested)?

Then again, it may all appear harmless to us lay people, but perhaps it is too embarrassing to the authorities, especially the Barisan Nasional-led government. It may even pose a threat to national security.

However, I believe our professional police force probably agrees that it's a waste of their time and energy. I sympathise with their helplessness.

Why do we have to put an unnecessary number of policemen to keep watch over a harmless activity? Does somebody up there think our policemen have nothing better to do? Look at the murders, robberies and gang fights that are being reported, sometimes almost daily; aren't those cases where our police are most needed?

This reminded me of the ongoing Suhakam inquiry into police brutality at the Kesas Highway. At one point, Mehrun Siraj had asked a police officer if it was up to the police to decide whether a gathering was illegal or not, or if they took instructions from somebody, and whether they practise double standards in awarding permits for gatherings.

Looking at this unnecessary arrest, can anybody blame me for thinking negatively about our police?

The malaysiakini report also revealed there was a planned action by the police to make arrests, which goes like this:

1) Tell them to walk in twos and keep a distance.

2) Stop the front pairs.

3) Expect the rest to catch up and force the participants to be close enough to charge them for illegal assembly.

4) Immediately take photos.

5) The end.

A perfect ploy, isn't it?

I am looking forward eagerly for our police, especially our police chief Norian Mai to respond to this malaysiakini report to clear the good name of our police.