KL calls for world summit to crush militancy, terror<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Calling for a summit of world leaders
\nto tackle terrorism, the Malaysian government said on Friday that
\nactions such as its recent crackdown on suspected Islamic
\nmilitants are necessary to prevent tragedies like the attacks in
\nthe United States.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that the attacks in
\nWashington and New York were a \"lesson\" that governments should
\ntake firm steps to combat extremist movements that could destroy
\nlives and jeopardize peace.<\/p>\n
\"Malaysia on its part has taken very, very strong action
\nagainst all those involved in militant activities,\" Syed Hamid
\ntold reporters. \"We have taken preventive measures, as we cannot
\nafford to wait and see what has happened in the World Trade
\nCenter\" happen here.<\/p>\n
Last month, Malaysian police detained without trial at least
\n10 alleged Islamic extremists accused of being involved in a
\ncampaign of waging robberies and murders to overthrow Prime
\nMinister Mahathir Mohamad's government and install a hardline
\nIslamic state.<\/p>\n
Some of the detainees were also members of the fundamentalist
\nPan-Malaysian Islamic Party, the country's largest opposition
\ngroup, which says the accusations are baseless and an attempt to
\ndiscredit the party.<\/p>\n
The government claims that Malaysia's extremists have links
\nwith like-minded groups in neighboring Indonesia and the
\nPhilippines. A Malaysian bomber blew off his leg in Jakarta last
\nmonth during an attack on a shopping mall.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Mahathir, Asia's longest-serving ruler, proposed
\nthat world leaders hold a conference to discuss international
\nterrorism. He added, however, that countries should avoid taking
\nsides to tackle the problem.<\/p>\n
\"Islamic countries should not take sides with fellow Islamic
\ncountries, while non-Islamic countries should not take sides with
\nnon-Islamic countries,\" Mahathir was quoted as saying by the
\nnational news agency, Bernama. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
Mahathir, who has led Malaysia since 1981, warned that violent
\nmethods were not the proper way to resolve the issue, but that a
\nsolution must be found to deal with the root of terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We need to look at terrorism as a crime that has to be
\naddressed by the whole world,\" Mahathir said.<\/p>\n
Mahathir visited the U.S. Embassy and signed the condolences
\nbook.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has stepped security outside embassies and the
\nnational oil company, Petronas, also increased vigilance at all
\nits facilities after a bomb hoax Wednesday at the Petronas Twin
\nTowers, the world's tallest buildings, forced the evacuation of
\nthousands of people.<\/p>\n
Malaysia said it was keeping up rigorous checks on arrivals to
\nthe mostly Muslim country as focus turns to militant groups
\noperating out of Asia following the terror attacks on the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
A surge in arrivals from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq
\nthis year raised worries Malaysia was becoming a transit corridor
\nfor refugees fleeing regimes at home.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Malaysian law enforcement officials said on Friday
\nthat the Philippines had not requested the arrest of nine
\nMalaysians who were denied entry into the Philippines by
\nsuspicious customs officials.<\/p>\n
The nine had all been in Pakistan recently for periods long
\nenough to have included terrorism training, Philippine officials
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The men were ethnic Malay Muslims with Malaysian passports and
\nwere flown back to Kuala Lumpur after being turned away from Cebu
\ninternational airport, a Malaysian official said on condition of
\nanonymity.<\/p>\n
Casimiro Madarang, chief of the immigration bureau at Cebu
\nairport, told The Associated Press that the nine had recently
\nbeen in Pakistan an average of five months, which he considered
\nas enough time for terrorism training, so they were barred from
\nentering the Philippines.<\/p>",
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