With regard to Choo Seng Chee ('Why are Malaysians deprived of the KLIA contracts?' Oct 4) and Bill Cheng's ('A businessman's grave concern', Oct 4) recent letters concerning the awarding of Malaysian airport contracts to the Saudi-based bin Laden group, I would like to point out that the Economist article referred to by these two individuals did not give any details as to the size and nature of the contract(s).

To quote the article, "Its [the bin Laden group's] latest projects include airport facilities in Kuala Lumpur, a runway in Cairo and a vast new mosque in Medina" (The Economist, Sept 22 - 28, 'The Spider in the web'). This was the only reference linking the bin Laden group with an airport project in Malaysia in the entire article.

It would be wrong therefore to assume that the Malaysian economy has been grievously harmed at this critical time by a government favouring foreign businesses over Malaysian businesses without knowing all the details.

That said, however, I agree that to the extent that public funds were utilised in this airport project, the government should disclose the details of the transaction, especially in the light of the Sept 11 attacks in the US which has been blamed on Osama bin Laden.

It would also be wrong to say that none of the money that the bin Laden group received for this airport project benefitted Malaysian individuals and businesses. I would imagine that the bin Laden group would have sourced material, labour and services from Malaysia. Indeed, judging from the common practice (also by Malaysian businesses) of employing foreign labour in the more menial tasks, some of this money would have left the country in any case.