Malaysia has been successful in handling Southeast Asian militant organisation Jemaah Islamiah (JI), as evident from actions taken against individuals and groups connected with the movement, said Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

"I think we have been very successful in handling the JI. If there is evidence of anybody connected to it or any subsidiary group, we take action (against them)," he said during an interview with the BBC which was broadcasted yesterday.

Syed Hamid said although the movement had started in Malaysia, it was led from the beginning by an Indonesian national (cleric Abu Bakar Bashir) who later went back to his own country.

"We wanted to arrest Abu Bakar and we have provided the information to the Indonesians...we have listed the JI with the United Nations as a terrorist group and we do not have direct linkages with the JI," he said.

De-registered companies

Responding to questions on Malaysia's apparent lack of success in targetting terrorist financing, the foreign minister said there has been no evidence to show that the funds are in the country aside from allegations made in reports on the issue by the United Nations and the United States.

"At present, we do not have cogent evidence (that the funds are in Malaysia). People have been talking and they talk about the report. They make assumptions but we cannot operate on assumptions especially on accounts and these accounts are not easy to trace."

He acknowledged that the government had been notified by US authorities of 10 corporations which are said to be front organisations to raise funds for militant organisations but added that more details would have to be forthcoming for action to be taken.

"If the US supplies us with information (of these companies), we will check on them and look into their accounts. Some of the companies that they have given us are those that have already been de-registered and there is no proof of any linkages (with terrorist activities).

"For the one or two companies that seem to have linkages, we ourselves have listed them with the UN. If they have any evidence, we are quite willing to cooperate," he said during a lively debate with BBC interviewer Tim Sebastian.

The subject of terrorism and Malaysia's efforts in taking action against terrorist financing was among key topics discussed during the 30-minute interview programme, Hardtalk, in addition to other hot news topics such as Malaysia's foreign policy and allegations that the government had abused laws to stifle internal dissent.

Sebastian, the host of Hardtalk, is known as a tough interviewer who has spoken with many key political leaders and decision-makers of the day.

Subversive activities

Commenting on the government's use of the Internal Security Act (ISA), Syed Hamid said detention without trial is required because "prevention is better than cure".

"People who do not understand the Malaysian political system may simply criticise and say that it is to get rid of opponents. We have elections every four or five years and the opposition has won two states in Malaysia.

"We can handle our political opposition without difficulty. Whether you agree or disagree, that is a different question but we have no problems with the political process," he stressed.

He said ISA detainees have not been brought to court because of the nature of their "crimes" which involves plots to overthrow the government through "illegitimate or unlawful means".

"If they commit normal crimes, then we can bring them to court. If they committed crimes (such as those perpetrated by) the KMM or Al-Maunah, we charge them in court. But when people do subversive activities, this is the law we inherited," he said.

Meanwhile, Syed Hamid also refuted claims that the trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was politically-motivated and that judicial independence has been eroded by actions of the executive.

"Our judiciary is very open and very transparent. The trial of Anwar has been done in a very transparent way. He had the best lawyers in the country to defend him. It was not a kangaroo court. It was well reported in the foreign media and local media," he said.

He also said that critics should not fault Malaysia's legal system just because they disagreed with the judgement in Anwar's case.

"There is nothing wrong with the system. You may disagree, you may feel that the trial is not fair but that does not mean that there has not been justice...We have got our laws and they are based on due process and the judicial process was done properly," he added.

Pressure on Rangoon

On Malaysia's foreign relations, Syed Hamid said that although Malaysia often criticised Washington, it did not mean that relations between the two countries are poor.

"There are views of Washington that we share and those that we differ. When we differ, we have to express our point of view...(Some of the comments) may be harsh but they are things which require understanding.

"I think it is good for (countries) to be able to express their points of view and concerns especially smaller countries. Otherwise, they would be swallowed up," he said.

On the question of Burma, Syed Hamid said Malaysia had applied pressure on the Rangoon junta despite international criticism of Asean's reticent position.

"We have put pressure. Otherwise there would not be reconciliation. (Burmese opposition leader) Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy would not be able to talk with (the junta leaders).

"We think that by re-arresting Suu Kyi, it does not help the situation. It makes the situation worse. That's why we have called on (Burma) to listen to the views of the international community," he said.

The foreign minister also justified the controversial move by the police to arrest over 200 asylum seekers as they approached the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) last month by saying that those arrested were "illegal immigrants".

"What the UNHCR has done is that they have registered illegal immigrants as refugees so we need to investigate whether these people are refugees or whether they are illegal immigrants seeking employment in Malaysia.

"In this case, we have arrested them, then the UNHCR decided that these people are refugees," he said.