KUALA LUMPUR Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz has slammed Australia's security officials for treating her like a terrorist during a visit there a fortnight ago, reports said Saturday.

Rafidah said airport security officials gave her a hard time upon her arrival in Sydney for a World Trade Organisation meeting, demanding her hand-luggage be checked by sniffer dogs twice at different locations.

"I told them that I would not allow that, as I am a Muslim," she was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.

"How could they do such a thing particularly during the fasting month and when the animal is 'haram' (dirty) to Muslims? They were so insensitive.

Rafidah said she had pointed out that she was a guest of the Australian government, and told them that they could open and check her bag if they suspected anything.

Blew her top

They relented and let her go but upon reaching the hotel, she said security officials tried for a third time to use dogs to screen her bag.

"This time I blew my top. I told them if they were to touch my bag, I would take the next flight home," Rafidah said, describing the events as "ridiculous" as she was not subjected to such harasment even in New York.

The Malay-language Berita Harian quoted her as saying: "Their action showed they have no confidence... as if I was carrying drugs or bombs. I will not harm Australia or myself. I am not a terrorist."

She questioned why Muslims from Malaysia were targeted, noting that the Indonesians were not asked to submit their luggage to sniffer-dog checks.

Mahathir's anger

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has slammed Australia and the United States for singling out Southeast Asia in their travel advisories after the October 12 Bali blasts, which killed more than 190 people.

Mahathir, who has pledged to step down in October 2003, said Australia had gone too far in identifying with US aims and tactics in the war against terrorism.

The veteran Southeast Asian leader warned that Australia could not be accepted as an Asian country if it played "deputy sheriff" to the United States. AFP