The police's decision not to advise a lance corporal to withdraw his defamation suit against teenager Foo Tze Kuan after she reported him for alleged corruption has miffed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

"When it suits them (the police), they say it's their right. When it doesn't suit them, they abuse other people's rights. It's up to them. We can only advise," he told a press conference in the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

On Nov 23, the cabinet decided to advise the policeman Bahrain Awang to withdraw the case as it would undermine the government's effort to tackle corruption.

But the advice apparently fell on deaf ears when Deputy Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan stated that the police could not direct Bahrain to drop the suit as he acted in his personal capacity.

Asked if Bukit Aman's decision runs contrary to the cabinet's advice, Nazri did not answer directly.

"I don't know. What do you think? Would you take action against the prosecutor when you are not happy with the action taken by the court? Would you take action against the judge when the ruling is not in your favour?" was his response.

"If you think it's right, then sue lah. Sue the judges, sue the prosecutors, sue everybody lah! It's up to you all to think. Is it in the interest of the public? Isn't the police suppose to take care of tpublic interest?" the minister added.

Foo, then 17, had lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in June last year after several policemen had allegedly demanded a bribe of RM300 after stopping her for a traffic offence in Seremban.

Bahrin was charged for the offence in March but was acquitted on a technicality. He then filed a defamation suit against Foo in May. The first hearing was scheduled for last week but has been postponed to January.

Asean-level caucus

Meanwhile, Nazri who is also chairperson of the Parliamentary Human Rights Caucus said the name of the caucus will be changed to Parliamentary 'Human Rights and Good Governance Caucus' .

"We feel that we should not only look at human rights issues, but also the efficiency of bureaucracy, fighting corruption, transparency and good governance," he said.

He said the Conference on Good Governance, Democracy and Asean held in Kuala Lumpur last week also decided to set up the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights and Good Governance.

"I will chair the caucus that will comprise representatives from the respective Asean countries," he added.

On another matter, Nazri said the caucus will support the registration of the Malaysian Dayak Congress (MDC) with the Registrar of Societies.

He said the caucus will meet Home Minister Azmi Khalid to help resolve the matter.

MDC proponents in Sarawak had applied to set up the party early this year.