An opposition leader today accused the government of using right-wing extremist American groups in a concerted public relations effort to strengthen the country's image in the international arena.

"It is a tragedy and national shame if the authorities have to resort to roping in obscure, fringe extremist right-wing American groups for its international media campaign to bolster its domestic sticks and befriend the Bush presidency," said DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang.

Lim was reacting to a report handed in to US congressmen by the little known American Defence Council praising Malaysia as being the most "politically and democratically stable nation in Asia" and warned the dangers posed by opposition Islamic party, PAS.

The report highlighted by Bernama yesterday, also lambasted PAS for opposing "a modern state based on the politics of tolerance, diversity and inclusion".

According the council, Malaysia's future was a choice between a forward-looking state characterised by toleration, blessed by prosperity and devoted to democracy or a theocratic regime helmed by clerics whose rule was grounded on their claim to know God's will.

However, Lim questioned the credibility of the council and described it as a "fringe outfit".

"Although Bernama described the ADC as 'an influential American group' nobody seems to have heard of it and it could not be located on the Internet, unlike the 'mama-papa' think-tank National Centre for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) which at least has a website.

"An American lobby group which does not even maintain a website cannot be but a very fringe outfit," Lim said.

Militant links

Three weeks ago, the NCPPR released an article written by its president Amy Ridenour which among others, accused jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim of having links with Islamic militants.

The article was published in the Washington Times, owned by the Unification Church or Moonies, which has close ties to the Republicans.

The think-tank is known to be closely linked to key conservative politicians in the US including former president Ronald Reagan, and is managed by Ridenour and her husband.

"This prompted my question as to whether the NCPPR was hired in a campaign to win the hearts of Washington, whether Malaysian taxpayers monies were involved in the retention of American lobbyist groups to pave way for a meeting between Mahathir and Bush," said Lim.

On Aug 2 Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed his wish to meet wih US president George W Bush during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Forum in Shanghai, China, this October.

It is believed that the meeting is to thaw steely relations between the two countries since the sacking and jailing of Anwar.