Malaysia is being seen as a place for grooming terrorist following the fatal shooting of wanted terrorist Dr Azahari Husin by Indonesian police last week, said a parliamentarian today.

"Malaysia was always proud of its stability but because of Azahari we have been linked with violence," said Ahmad Shabery Cheek (BN-Kemaman) in the Dewan Rakyat.

"We are saddened because Malaysia is a peaceful country but now it has been seen as a place that grooms terrorists," he added.

He also asked if the government's RM4.5 million allocation for the South East Asia Regional Centre for Counter Terrorism was sufficient to remedy the nation's image.

Deputy Foreign Minister Joseph Salang Gadum later said that the amount was more than enough.

He also said that the government will continue to monitor the activities of terrorist groups in the country.

Exchange information

Malaysia will cooperate and exchange information with other countries in the region to tackle terrorism, he added in his winding-up speech for the ministry at the committee stage of the Budget 2006.

Azahari, a former Malaysian lecturer, was said to be a key figure in the regional terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiyah, which has been blamed for several bombings.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Azahari had chosen a path of self-destruction.

"He was a high quality academician but chose a path that ultimately brought destruction to himself," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He said the path of violence should not be emulated, especially when it was something frowned up by God.