KUALA LUMPUR - A police inspector who allegedly told a 51-year-old snatch theft victim to "balik China" (return to China) if she could not speak Bahasa Malaysia is being investigated.

City police chief DCP Datuk Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the inspector, in his 30s, was from the Sentul district police headquarters. He is being investigated by the city police headquarters disciplinary committee headed by the Chief Police Officer.

The officer, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, has been temporarily relieved of his duties pending investigations. He is now handling administrative work.

He allegedly made the remark to housewife Loh See Moi, who was a snatch theft victim on Aug 24 in Kepong.

"The police force will not defend and protect any policemen, if they are guilty of wrongdoing," said DCP Muhammad Sabtu.

Loh, from Selayang, lodged a police report against the inspector at the Jinjang police station yesterday, alleging that he had uttered these words: "Jika tak tahu cakap Bahasa Melayu, balik China" (go back to China if you can't speak Bahasa Malaysia).

In her report, Loh said she had gone to the Kepong police station accompanied by her daughter Fong Ay Lian, 26, to lodge a report following the snatchtheft.

She said at the inspector's office, her daughter spoke to the officer in English but he refused to entertain her as she was not the complainant.

Then as Loh began to relate her ordeal in English, the inspector made the remark.

Loh said she asked him in Bahasa Malaysia why he made the remark, saying that she was a Malaysian.

DCP Muhammad urged the public to lodge a report or complaint with their respective district police chiefs if they encountered problems with policemen or officers.

"I will be very disappointed if the allegations against my officer are true. We will investigate the matter thoroughly,'' he added.