COMMENT Within just 24 hours, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar and Umno’s senior cabinet member, Nazri Abdul Aziz, have said things that are damaging to both their own reputations, as well as the country’s long-term relationship with Australia.

Personally, I am not amused with what they had to say. Khalid accused Australia of raising a false alarm when it sent out an advisory to its citizens warning them against a possible Islamic State (IS) attack in Kuala Lumpur.

Under normal circumstances, the embassy would not issue such warnings. Since the advisory was issued, it is the duty of Khalid and his men to liaise directly with their counterparts in Australia to exchange notes.

In fact, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) should be more vigilant in combatting terrorists in the country, instead of monitoring the Internet and social media to see how young people gossip about the country’s leaders.

Advisory meant for fellow citizens

It is not uncommon for any government or embassy to safeguard its own people against any possible IS attack. This is often based on their own intelligence.

This is well within their jurisdiction. It can do so without consulting the local police chief. Our embassies can do the same if it has to raise a high alert for fellow Malaysians.

Meanwhile, Nazri has just shot himself in the foot by calling the Australians “racists” . As a tourism minister, Nazri should at least be more diplomatic when dealing with another country, especially since he is trying to attract tourists from Australia to visit Malaysia.

Nazri should realise that he is now a senior Umno cabinet minister and every word that he utters will be broadcast far and wide. While no one would disagree with him that Australia is also under IS threat, the issue of being ‘racist’ does not arise at all.

This is typical of Nazri but at least tact should be exercised when it comes to international relations. In fact, he contradicted himself. If the Aussies themselves are ‘racists’, the number of tourists from Australia to this part of the world would not be high, as it is today.

Police’s focus

As the police chief in Malaysia, Khalid should have at least enquired with his counterpart from Australia to see how PDRM could thwart potential threats from the IS.

Khalid should not forget that four Indonesians, including a 15-year-old, were arrested within the last 24 hours. They escaped the Malaysian dragnet after clearing the Johor checkpoint, but the Singapore authorities arrested them.

These four individuals were believed to be en route to the Middle East to join the IS. Since the arrest was made in Woodlands, Khalid should be interested to find out why they had travelled to Malaysia, and who did they meet in Malaysia.

A thorough investigation should be carried out immediately and any findings should be tweeted to the Malaysian public. I am personally keen to find out why these had bothered to enter into Malaysia, and risk themselves by going through border checks.

There must be some reasons why they had travelled to Malaysia in the first place. That should be the IGP’s focus, instead of taking offence over Australia’s travel advisory.

And, for Nazri, he would be better off not making all sort of remarks that would hurt international relations. Nazri should remember that when the country was under Imperial Japan, it was the Aussies from Down Under who fought to liberate Malaya.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.