If you want to witness first hand how pitifully absurd and shameful the Malaysian police are, go attend a candlelight vigil.

At the recent candle-light vigil organised by GMI (Gerakan Memansuhkan ISA) outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters, it was shameful to see the extent to which our government resources were used for what was undoubtedly a peaceful and harmless event.

Even if they were supposedly 'upholding the law' against an illegal gathering, there was no reason to harass the attendees. We were intimidated on the way there, and without giving us any reason whatsoever, the police forced us to diffuse our candles and ordered us to disperse.

The ridiculousness of that situation was even more evident with top police officers, FRU, and special branch officers numbering more than the vigil attendees; all in all a harmless group of Malaysians with candles.

While making sure candles were snuffed out by peace-loving Malaysians who are merely making a non-violent stand for justice, serious crimes of rape, murder, and robbery are terrorising Malaysians everyday. Not only do we fear walking in the streets, we also fear the very people that are supposed to be protecting us. As a seasoned ISA detainee and human rights activists, YB Sungi Saarib, said, “You have no damn right to harass us”.

The professionalism and integrity of the police with not much regard to the people, is evident in the manner the orang asal march was cancelled recently.

The police can say all they want about their thankless job and publicise the crimes they have solved on TV, the fact remains that the civilians' everyday experiences speak for themselves. I'm sure the police, especially the special branch officers who have nothing better to do than to snoop around, are trawling through Malaysiakini letters for possible threats to national security.

So if one of you are reading this, perhaps you can enlighten the public or redeem this poor public perception of our police force. Otherwise, please do what you are supposed to, like protecting the people from harm that includes intimidation, and not intimidate innocent and harmless civilians yourselves.

Do not be naive to think that you only have to answer to your superiors, for the time will come when whom you should be working for - the Malaysian public - will have a say in how our police should be run - with more efficiency, transparency, and accountability to the people.

While being in solidarity to a cause, everyone should also witness how pitiful the Malaysian police can be. Perhaps tours for tourists can be organised to see them in action. Clean looking police and FRU paraphernalia are aplenty. After all, if they're good for nothing, at least they can be a tourist attraction - the best candle snatchers in town.