'JI has been crippled in Malaysia'

'JI has been crippled in Malaysia'

Sean Yoong, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur

Authorities have crippled the operations in Malaysia of the al- Qaeda-linked terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), but militants from neighboring areas could still threaten the country, senior police said on Tuesday.

"Generally, we have managed to destroy the (JI) networking," said Yusof Abdul Rahman, commissioner of police for Malaysia's special branch division.

Yusof said Malaysia would continue cooperating with neighboring countries to combat the extremist network, which is blamed for a string of terror attacks across Southeast Asia.

More than 100 suspected militants, including dozens of alleged Jamaah Islamiyah members, have been arrested in Malaysia in the last two years, Yusof said. Most are being held without trial under a tough security law.

JI, which officials say wants to set up an Islamic state across Southeast Asia, has been accused of masterminding the Bali bombings that killed 202 people in October 2002 and the Aug. 5 attack on the J.W. Mariott Hotel in Jakarta that killed 12 people.

Two Malaysians are among Southeast Asia's most wanted terrorist fugitives -- explosive experts Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohammed Top, who are accused of taking part in both the Bali and Marriott attacks. They are believed to be on the run somewhere in Indonesia.

Yusof was speaking to reporters after a tribute ceremony for outgoing national police chief Norian Mai, who retired on Tuesday after spearheading the crackdown on terror suspects since mid- 2001.

Norian said he believed "terrorism-related challenges" would persist in Malaysia and elsewhere for at least the next year or two, but the threat to this country would come mainly from neighboring countries.

Norian's successor and former deputy, Bakri Omar, refused to comment at a news conference on Tuesday on topics related to terrorism.

Earlier on Tuesday, new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi chaired his first meeting of Malaysia's National Security Council and suggested several areas where performance could be improved, an official said.

Abdullah was briefed on a wide range of issues by senior defense, police and other officials during the four-hour meeting, said Jaafar Ismail, the council's secretary.

"Several points were raised by him and we have taken note and will deal with them," Jaafar was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

Abdullah retained the portfolio of home minister, who is responsible for domestic security, when he succeeded former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad last Friday, ending the veteran leader's 22-years reign.