It has now been clearly established that the woman in the nude-squat controversy is indeed a Malaysian. It has also been clearly stated that such practices are allowed as part of a routine search procedure.

Since the discovery that the victim was in fact Malaysian, the urgency to investigate and act has since dampened. There is no longer any external pressure to get to the bottom of the issue. In fact, there is little need to produce an acceptable answer as it no longer affects individuals of another country.

Instead, the attention is now turned to the parliamentarian that exposed the issue calling her irresponsible and that she lacked foresight. The threat of damaging relations with China was real and the act of exposing a possible profiling of visitors to Malaysia could dissuade much needed Chinese tourists and investment in this country.

Even the police officer that videotaped the scene surreptitiously, will surely not be spared from diciplinary action.

However, the main issue at heart should be the violation of a basic human right. This issue should be at the center of debate. The independant commision should indeed be concentrating on how methods of search can be improved without the need to humiliate and degrade another human being. The government should grant immunity to whistleblowers lest they be silently chastised and tortured.

I have a feeling that there will be widespread disappointment when the report of the independant commission is published. It appears that Malaysians still lack the bravery to contradict the suppressive Malaysian authorities. Sadly, now many detainees will suffer in silence under the brutal force of the police.