 |
|
Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar (R), with his Philippine counterpart
|
By
Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia Correspondent
KUALA
LUMPUR, October 19 (IslamOnline) - Malaysia is to step up security
following the series of bombing that rocked the South East Asian
region this week and killed nearly 200 people in Indonesia and the
Philippines, sources said Saturday, October 19.
On
Friday, October 18, Mahathir Mohamad, the Malaysian Premier said his
country could suffer similar devastating bomb attacks like the ones in
Bali.
"In
the case of terrorist activities, you can never determine where they
are going to attack next," Mahathir told a news conference at the
end of a three-day visit to India, Bernama reports.
In
Kuala Lumpur, there are no signs of added security besides the usual
presence of police elements in the streets though sources close to the
ruling government said security measures would be upgraded to prevent
such attacks.
At
the head office of the National Front (NF) in Kuala Lumpur, officials
were in disbelief that the United Nations had linked the NF to the
al-Qaeda network. Party officials say the government is very upset
with these reports and vehemently denied the allegation.
“This
report is dangerous and there are no reasons for the UN to link our
government to the al-Qaeda network.
“However
we are sure that further steps will be taken to ensure that security
in Malaysia is enforced,” a party official told IslamOnline.
On
Friday Mahathir said the country had already taken serious measures to
prevent events like those in Indonesia and the Philippines:
"We
have, in fact, taken measures very early to eliminate this possibility
and I think time will show Malaysia is a safe and stable
country," he said.
"Obviously
this kind of activities will affect the region as a whole," he
said, when asked if foreign investment in the region would be hit by
such violent attacks.
More
than 180 people, including up to 119 Australians, were killed in
Saturday's attack on nightclubs in Bali, a popular Indonesian resort
island.
Western
governments have immediately blamed Islamic elements for the attack in
Bali while Asian presses and Islamic groups have blamed the US and the
CIA.
On
Thursday, October 17, seven people were killed more than 160 were
injured in bomb blasts in the main bazaar of the southern Philippine
city of Zamboanga, which is at the heart of a Muslim insurgency in the
region.
On the other hand, the Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri has
signed two anti-terrorism decrees that give her government expanded
powers to stop the terrorism menace in Indonesia.
The
decree among others allows the authorities to detain people believed
to have been involved in terrorist activities or about to execute the
act of terror even in the absence of strong legal evidence.
One of the decrees gives special powers to law enforcement authorities
to investigate and prosecute suspects. Indonesian authorities are
being assisted by their counterparts from several countries in the
investigations.
Megawati won crucial support from Parliament on Thursday following a
meeting to discuss the decree, based on legislation, which has stalled
in Parliament for months, after strong opposition from rights groups.
The decree and the arrest of some Islamic leaders this week gives hope
to the those who singled out the largest Muslim nation on earth as the
weakest link in the global war against terrorism.
Human
rights groups have opposed the anti-terrorism law for fear that it
could be repressive and open to human rights abuses, their views are
now ignored and it appears that there are still a majority of Muslims
who do not agree with Megawati on the terrorism issue.
|
|
Palestine:
Palestinians Abandon Yanun Village, Citing Attacks By Israeli Settlers
U.S. Roadmap Without Guarantees
Not Credible: Palestinians
France, Russia Condemn Israeli
Offensives Against Palestinians
No Justification for Israel’s
Killing of Palestinian Civilians: Sarid
Hamas Claims Responsibility for Gaza Counter Attack
Sharon To Meet Bush To Discuss
U.S. Attack on Iraq
Peres Defends Oslo, Says
Far-Right's Blindness to Bring Catastrophe
Iraq:
U.S. Drops 'Force' Demand For New Resolution on Iraq
Talabani Opposes U.S.
Government in Post-Saddam Iraq
Row Deepens After Spanish
Diplomat Resigns Over Iraq
IAEA Chief Says Iraq, N. Korea
“Equal Priorities”, U.S. Disagrees
UN Chief Says
"Compromise" UN Resolution on Iraq Likely
Sharon Leaves Washington With Green Light on Iraq
ASEAN Calls for Immediate Review of Sanctions on Iraq
Indian, U.S. Air Forces Hold
New Joint Air Exercise at Agra
U.S. Actor Warns Bush Against
Legacy of “Shame, Horror”
Hindu Extremists Say A Cow's
Life More Precious Than Man's
Kuwaiti FM: Return of POWs More
Important Than National Archives
U.S. study Says Indo-Israeli
Invasion of Pakistan Probable
Burns Starts Mideast Tour, U.S. Lashes Israel Over Killing Palestinian Civilians
EU Candidates Hold Breath As Irish Vote
Philippine Leader Vows to Bring Deadly Bombers to Justice
Five killed, 15 Injured In Blast, Gun battle In Kashmir
Malaysia to Step up Security After Bombings in South East Asia
U.S. Envoy Arrives in Seoul for North Korea Nuke Talks
Australia Archbishop: Support For U.S. Policies Behind Bali Blast
Indonesian Police Arrest Suspect Basyir
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
