Police are investigating Gerakan Merah leader Mohd Ali Baharom for complaining that they are sleeping on the job, said Khalid Abu Bakar today.

The inspector-general of police said Ali, better known as Ali Tinju, had his statement recorded at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today over his remarks.

Ali had reportedly made the claims when complaining about the police's alleged failure to arrest any Tangkap Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) activists during last Saturday's rally.

“We have received many police reports by those who are disgruntled over his remarks.

“We will investigate him under Section 504 of the Penal Code that carries a two-year jail sentence,” Khalid told a press conference at Bukit Aman today.

The section deals with intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

He denied the police were sleeping on the job, saying that if this were true, the country would not be as peaceful as it is today.

Khalid added that Ali should not interfere in the police's investigation into the TangkapMO1 rally organisers.

“That's not his job. Whether we want to arrest them or not, that's the job of police officers.

“He should sit down quietly and should not disturb our work,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ali was met by reporters later as he was leaving Bukit Aman and confirmed that he had his statement taken by police on the matter.

'Encouragement for police'

Explaining his “police sleeping” remarks, Ali said it was made as a form of “encouragement” for the police.

“I was trying to encourage the police, I didn't say that all police officers in Malaysia are sleeping.

“If I want to slam all police officers, I would have demonstrated in front of Bukit Aman. But the ones I’m angry at are officers at Dang Wangi,” he said.

Police, he added, should be fair.

He complained that the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) was deployed when he organised the Gerakan Merah protest in front of the Dang Wangi district police headquarters on Monday but the same treatment was not accorded to the TangkapMO1 rally.

“It is as though (police are) letting them demonstrate. This is not fair for us, as an NGO which supports the government,” he said.

On Khalid who told him not to meddle in police work, Ali said he was merely exercising his rights as a rakyat to voice out his views.

“I hope the IGP understands the right to voice our views. If I'm in the wrong, the IGP should rectify the situation so that there is no TangkapMO1 rally.

“Let the Home Ministry, the attorney-general and judges say whether I’m wrong or the IGP. The IGP should not judge me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Khalid in the press conference earlier said police will stay alert and were ready for any possibilities.

Khalid said this when asked on possible attacks by terror group Islamic State (IS) on Malaysia Day.

The top cop however declined to provide further details on the matter.

“We hope the community will cooperate and provide us with any information in ensuring that the country is safe from threats coming from IS," he said.

Deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim yesterday said an attack by IS on Sept 16 was possible.

This is because the terror group was trying to make its presence felt in the country, he had said.