Four militants' jail terms extended

Four militants' jail terms extended

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's prime minister issued new orders on Friday to keep four Islamic militant suspects in prison for two more years, an official said.

The four alleged members of the Kampulan Militan Malaysia (KMM), a group allegedly allied to the al-Qaeda-linked Southeast Asian extremist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), were imprisoned two years ago under a tough security law that provides for detention without trial.

The orders they were being held under were due to expire on Friday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi issued fresh orders to detain the men for two more years because authorities believed "they were still militant in their thinking and pose a threat to national security," a senior government official told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity.

The four, identified as Muhamad Zulkifli Mohamad Zakaria, Khairuddin Saad, Muhamad Zulkepli Mohamad Isa and Mat Salleh, are being held in a prison camp in northern Perak state. -- AP