Newly-minted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi vowed today that neither he nor his deputy will interfere with the work of police and any enforcement action during their stewardship of the ministry.

NONE "There will be no political interference from the two of us," Zahid ( left ) told reporters after his maiden visit to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters.

Zahid was accompanied on his visit by Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar and was welcomed by new police chief Khalid Abu Bakar and a police guard-of-honour.

"We shall leave it to the provisions in the Acts and laws which the PDRM will enforce," he said.

However, Zahid warned all quarters not to "question police actions as long as they follow provisions of the law".

This, he said, was because even if there were differences of opinion among Malaysians, when it comes to laws, all must respect the Acts that have been passed by Parliament.

In an apparent dig at opposition MPs questioning recent police crackdowns on pro-democracy activists, Zahid said respect for the laws was especially prudent of lawmakers who themselves approved the legislation passed by Parliament.

Those who questioned the laws, Zahid warned, were tantamount to disrespecting the constitution, which was the root of national laws and they would be setting aside the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as embodied in the legal framework.

'Don't interfere in police work'

Earlier today, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli told off Zahid for ‘interfering’ in police work after Zahid’s warning of stringent action against those taking part in rallies.

NONE Saying that Zahid should not "overstep the boundaries", Rafizi ( right ) pointed out that the police have “cooperated” when rallies have been organised by Pakatan Rakyat.

"Such intimidation does not work any more. Maybe Zahid thinks everyone is like himself," he said in reference to Zahid pulling out of the Reformasi movement within two weeks in 1998.

Zahid had threatened stern action against rally participants, although it remains unclear if he was referring to Pakatan’s rallies or a planned street protest by anti-government NGOs.

"Don't interfere in the professional work of the police. We cooperate with the police and the police know what they are doing," Rafizi told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

"We don't need a home minister to meddle in these issues. He can continue to intimidate if he wants to," he added.

NONE Rafizi also expressed confidence that Pakatan would push ahead with its Black 505 rally in Kedah, even though its Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir ( right ) has rejected permission for Pakatan to use the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Suka Menanti as the venue.

"The rally will continue. We changed venues before, we can do it again, within a few hours. Even if it's in front of Kedah PAS commissioner Mahfuz Omar's house, we will do it," he said.

Rafizi said the new IGP, Khalid, should be given the "benefit of doubt" when it comes to cooperating with the opposition.

"The past one-and-a-half years have improved under (former IGP) Ismail Omar. But I think the credit for this goes to the entire police force. I'm more than willing to give Khalid the benefit of doubt," he added.

Zahid had threatened stern action against rally-goers, although it remains unclear if he was referring to Pakatan’s rallies or a planned street protest by anti-government NGOs.

"Don't interfere in the professional work of the police. We cooperate with the police and the police know what they are doing," Rafizi said during a press conference at the PKR headquarters.

"We don't need a home minister to meddle in these issues. He can continue to intimidate if he wants to," he added.