Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar today curtly suggested to journalists that they ask former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for themselves what sort of harassment he was facing.

He said this when asked at a press conference to comment on Mahathir's claims that he and his family are being harassed.

"Why don't you ask him what kind of harassment and come and tell me," Khalid said at the press conference at the 36th Aseanapol Conference held in Putrajaya.

Mahathir had claimed that he, along with his friends and family, are being harassed in order to stop him from affecting the image of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

One form of harassment was the Income Tax Department's visit to his friends and family, he said.

'Tugboat owner also to blame for latest kidnapping'

On another matter, Khalid said tugboat operators are partly responsible for the July 18 kidnapping of five Malaysian sailors in Sabah.

"I hold the tugboat operators responsible as well. We have enganged them and advised them what they should be doing, but they did not heed our call," he said.

He said the authorities had met tugboat owners who sail in high-risk waters, and advised them to contact the police to prevent future kidnappings.

"Unfortunately, what happened was they failed to contact us.

"If they do not take our advice and do what they like in high-risk waters, then the security risk will be higher.

"Contact us when you go diving or bring along tourists. Don't act smart and go on your own (without informing us)," he said.

But he said he did not blame the victims for what happened to them.

Police have confirmed the sailors were kidnapped off Lahad Datu waters by a group from southern Philippines.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded P200 million (US$ 4.27 million) in ransom.

The five are Abd Rahim Summas, 62, Mohd Zumadil Rahim, 23, Fandy Bakran, 26, Tayudin Anjut, 45, and Mohd Ridzuan Ismail, 32.

Khalid also said the Malaysian police will discuss beefing up security at the South China Seas with their counterparts from Indonesia and Philippines during the one week long Aseanapol Conference.