Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar should not resort to using the police to defend himself from criticism, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

Lim also chided Khalid for the alleged misused of Malaysia’s criminal laws, saying that Malaysia would be a much safer place if the IGP had put as much effort into tackling crime as he did in defending himself and fighting those who were only expressing their opinions.

“The IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar should get down from his arrogant pedestal and remember that he is not sacrosanct or a ‘sacred cow’ who cannot be criticised, but a mere public servant paid by the people to perform his statutory duty to fight crime,” he said in a statement.

Lim also challenged Khalid to “fight fair” through the civil courts by using defamation law to clear his name, instead of using criminal laws where he has the police’s resources at his disposal.

Lim was referring to Khalid’s tweets on Sunday ordering the police’s cyber investigation unit (PCIRC) to investigate two individuals who insulted him over the micro-blogging service.

One posting called Khalid “anjing BN” (BN dog) while the other posting called him the “Heinrich Himmler of Malaysia”.

Heinrich Himmler was a senior commander in the Nazi Party and was chief of police in Nazi Germany. He is said to have overseen the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust.

In a statement, PCIRC said it would investigate the two individuals, but did not specify under which law is the action being taken.

Separately, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin said Khalid’s actions showed a lack of tolerance for personal opinion.

“This heavy-handed clampdown on those in opposition towards the federal government is a repeat of Operasi Lalang.

“The IGP should be reminded that the Royal Malaysian Police is not his personal army,” Zuraida said today.

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