Malaysia's acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed the Inspector General of Police to investigate police high-handedness against Indian professionals in Kuala Lumpur last week, media reports said on Monday.

Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu took up the matter with Abdullah when Indian High Commissioner Veena Sikri raised the issue with the authorities.

Commenting on the reports from New Delhi that India was angry over the incident, Vellu said all parties should wait for the outcome of the investigation.

''The incident should not be used as a yardstick to measure Malaysia-India friendship,'' said Vellu, who is also the president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, the third largest political party representing Indians in the ruling coalition.

On March 9, the Malaysian police detained 165 Indian nationals, mainly IT specialists, during a raid at Palm Court apartments in Brickfields following reports they were in the country illegally. The Indians were treated roughly and their passports were defaced, resulting in the Indian High Commissioner lodging a diplomatic protest.

UNI