The Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's insistence that he did not have any knowledge of the recent arrest of opposition leaders ([#1] Police nab reformasi 3, DPM denies under ISA [/#] April 10) can only lead to these conclusions:

1) He is not doing his job, or cannot - or is not allowed to - do it.

2) He conspires to lie.

Either way, he is not fit to hold the job.

But as the case of ex-IGP Rahim Noor's assault of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's illustrates clearly, the home minister is not accountable with regard to the actions of the police and should not worry about having to relinquish his position.