Penang executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin's tweet on deaths in police custody has irked his opponents in the BN.

The Friends of Barisan Nasional Facebook page today condemned Afif for defending criminals, saying his tweet reflected the main reason why crime takes place in the country.

"This is the culture and attitude of PKR representatives who always defend criminals," the post says.

Afif tweeted at 2.01am yesterday, Penjenayah bunuh polis itu tidak menghairankan, tetapi bila polis yang sepatutnya menegakkan undang-undang membunuh tahanan, itu masalah.

(Criminals killing the police is not surprising, but if police who are upholders of the law kill detainees, that's a problem).

His tweet also caught the attention of Sensible and Ethical Malaysians United Team (Semut) president Huan Cheng Guan ( left ), who intends to lodge a police report against the Seberang Jaya assemblyperson in his constituency tomorrow.

This comes after yesterday’s rejection of Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim's application to visit the Bayan Baru, Penang, centralised police lock-up.

Sim was concerned over the death of Ramasamy Nagu in the lock-up on March 1, following two earlier similar deaths - of A Punniyanathan in the Nibong Tebal police lock-up on Feb 10 and J Kulanthanga in Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur, on Feb 18.

Human rights activists have also raised concerns over deaths in custody after statistics revealed in Parliament last year showed 231 such deaths from 2000 to mid-2013.

Afif: No, I did not insult the police

When contacted, Afif denied insulting the police or defaming the force in his tweet.

He denied referring to anyone in particular in his tweet, adding that he was actually calling for institutional reforms within the force following the three recent deaths in police custody.

"When I said criminals killing the police is not surprising, I meant that these are the known risks that the police face while on duty," Afif told Malaysiakini .

"It is also the same for doctors. We are open to the risk of contracting dangerous diseases. Politicians also face great risks when certain quarters spin and twist their words," he added.

"Police face risks not only of being shot by foreigners while on duty, but also when carrying out roadblocks or chasing after Mat Rempit," he said.

Afif also rejected claims that he was not concerned about the police, adding that he respected the sacrifices of the force and was therefore proposing reforms to improve their working conditions.

However, deaths in police custody surprised him, Afif said, because the police are the enforcers of the law.

"Institutional reforms are necessary as there have also been deaths in the custody of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission," he said.

He was referring to well-known deaths in MACC custody involving DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock in 2009 and Customs officer Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamad in 2011, which remain questionable.

"We really need to address this issue. We need to, first of all, differentiate the thugs from the police," Afif, who is also Penang PKR Youth chief, added.