Opposition parties DAP and Keadilan today slammed Barisan Nasional leaders for trying to gain political mileage out of an allegation that insinuates a former ministers links to terrorism by a visiting American Islamic leader.

Islamic Supreme Council of America chairperson Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani alleged last week that a former senior Malaysian minister had given RM38 million (US$10 million) to Islamic organisations with possible links to extremist groups.

The allegation was reported in the News Straits Times last Thursday with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi insinuating that the countrys spell of bad press in the Sept 11 aftermath was linked to the unnamed former ministers donation.

The NST quoted the DPM, I have always wondered why the US and its media made so many accusations against us. Now we know why.

The unverified allegation and the subsequent remarks by BN leaders have since raised the ire of opposition leaders.

This is the first time in the nations history that a foreigner could come to Malaysia to malign the country and tarnish our international reputation and [yet] be feted as a hero with free access to the top government leaders... without having to produce any proof to substantiate the serious allegations against Malaysias national honour and international reputation, DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang said in a statement today.

He urged the Cabinet to deport Shaykh Muhammad Hisham and declare him persona non grata for tarnishing the countrys reputation unless he could furnish proof to substantiate his allegation.

Verifications sought

Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the party was amazed by the DPMs refusal to name the former minister though he had no compunction in making the allegations last week.

The politics of insinuation and casting aspersions does not accord well with our aspirations to be a modern and progressive society. This lackadaisical attitude will only enable people from other countries to accuse our nation of being a haven for terrorists, she said in a statement released today.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said yesterday that Wisma Putra would liaise with certain quarters in the US to obtain proof on Shaykh Mohammads allegation.

It is one week too late for the foreign minister to talk about getting proof from certain quarters in the United States to substantiate Shaykh Muhammad Hishams allegations, Lim said, adding that Umno ministers have been talking and acting on the basis that the allegations were true.

He said the government should be asking for proof to verify the allegations first before endorsing them instead of the other way round.

Whats more, the proof should come from the American Islamic leader and not certain quarters in the US, Lim added.

If Shaykh Muhammad Hisham cannot furnish any proof, an example must be made of him by the government as Malaysia cannot allow any foreigner to come to the country to malign and tarnish Malaysias international reputation without any shred of evidence, he said.

The Star yesterday reported that Abdullah wanted to meet Shaykh Muhammad Hisham for a second time so the deputy premier could ask him for additional documents to substantiate his allegation.

Abdullah was believed to have met with the controversial Islamic leader last weekend.