Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad appeared to take a sarcastic swipe at PAS when asked to confirm news reports that police have been instructed to use English instead of Bahasa Malaysia for their daily briefings and operations.

Though Mahathir did not mention PAS, the premier's remarks regarding the use of the Arabic language was an obvious reference to the Islamist party.

Mahathir was responding to a question from Kubang Kerian MP Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.