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Jakarta. The National Police chief on Friday broke his silence over simmering tensions between Indonesia and Malaysia, saying his men would not hesitate to crack down on ultranationalist groups.

Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said he had issued strict directives to his officers to take firm action against groups involved in past protests, including the People’s Democratic Defense (Bendera), members of which last month hurled feces at the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta and smeared excrement on the Malaysian flag.

“In light of circulating messages on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, provoking people to conduct sweeping operations against foreigners — particularly Malaysians — I would like to ask the masses not to be provoked,” he said, adding that the matter was being dealt with through diplomatic channels between the two governments.

“Please do not worsen relations and current conditions. Think about Indonesians working in Malaysia now. What if they [Malaysians] conduct sweeping operations against Indonesians?”

Bambang said the police would be monitoring Bendera’s actions and crack down on the group if necessary. “If the party in question insists on worsening the situation by holding sweeping activities against Malaysians in Indonesia, they will be strictly reprimanded,” he said. “If they still go ahead and continue to hold such operations, we will take firm action against them.”

Bambang suggested that the group’s actions could provoke Malaysians into conducting “sweeping” operations of their own against Indonesians. “Who would be held responsible if such operations are held against Indonesians in Malaysia?” he asked.

Bambang said Bendera members would face charges under the Criminal Code should they repeat their feces-throwing antics. “Whosoever defaces the national flag of a friendly country could face charges that carry a maximum jail term of four years,” he said.

When asked why Bendera members were not charged after the last incident, Bambang said only that he would guarantee firm action would be taken now. “I have ordered my officers not to hesitate to take action against them,” he said. “The law must be enforced.”

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who had earlier said his government’s cabinet was unanimous in wishing to see the incident resolved peacefully, said he hoped the Indonesia authorities would act against those behind the “heinous act,” adding that the Bendera had allegedly admitted to defacing the Malaysian flag on the group’s blog. “If it is an offense under the Indonesian law, I hope that action would be taken against them,” he was quoted by Malaysian state news agency Bernama as saying. “But I’m not about to tell the Indonesians what to do with their laws. We respect them.”

Anifah also said that Prime Minister Najib Razak had expressed disappointment at a cabinet meeting after he was informed about the incident. “Of course he was very disappointed,” Anifah said. “He finds it is wrong for them to do that. But he has faith in the Indonesian authority; he has faith in the president that this matter will be settled.”

Meanwhile, Mustar Bona Ventura, a coordinator from Bendera, told the Jakarta Globe that the group was not afraid of the police. “We are not afraid at all. We laugh at the National Police chief, who only thinks of arresting members of Bendera — people who are defending Indonesia,” he said.

“The National Police chief wants to arrest us, but cannot solve the case of the fat bank accounts? That is pathetic,” he added, referring to the corruption scandal involving several high-ranking officers who had allegedly amassed millions of dollars in their private bank accounts.

Mustar said this was typical of Indonesian law enforcement. “Maybe the police will be happy as they will be promoted after arresting us,” he said. “It shows that our police cannot do much better than this.”