'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.