Malaysia was not an operational launchpad for the Sept 11 terror attacks on the United States, visiting Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief Robert S Mueller said today.

"That was an inaccurate quote," Mueller told reporters when asked about a report in the international magazine Newsweek about Malaysia's role in the Sept 11 terror attacks.

Mueller, who is on a tour of Asia-Pacific countries, said neither the FBI nor the United States believed that Malaysia was a 'launchpad' for terrorist activities.

"There are a number of countries where terrorists have met and there are a number of countries which terrorists planned (their attacks) and to use the word launchpad is certainly inaccurate," he told reporters.

"Meeting or meetings may have occurred in Malaysia, but meetings occurred in Germany and a number of other countries," he said.

Mueller earlier held a 30-minute discussion with police chief Norian Mai and would also meet Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi before leaving for Singapore later today.

Secret FBI data

The FBI chief praised Malaysian police efforts to provide intelligence in the fight against terrorism.

"Malaysian police have worked cooperatively with us in providing helpful information about terrorists and their potential acts," Mueller said.

"We have had exchanges of information prior to Sept 11 and certainly after Sept 11."

Newsweek in a recent edition had said Malaysia was a primary operational launchpad for the airborne suicide attacks in New York and Washington, citing secret FBI data.

The report said US intelligence sources believed a former Malaysian army captain, Yazid Sufaat, who was a member of the Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiah, helped develop a support network for chief terror suspect Osama bin Laden in Malaysia and throughout Southeast Asia.

Yazid is alleged to have hosted and financed French national Zacarias Moussaoui, who faces trial in the US in connection with the attacks.

A former army officer, he also reportedly met in January 2000 with two of the 19 hijackers who carried out the attacks in the US a year-and-a-half later.

He is now being held for two years at a police detention camp without trial.

Extradition not ruled out

Asked specifically whether the US would seek Malaysia's cooperation to extradite Yazid, Mueller said, the US had not filed for his extradition but did not rule it out.

"We discussed a number of subjects and suspects," he said, adding that "if extradition was the appropriate raft to go, then we will utilise that mechanism."

Mueller said US fight against terrorism was not a war on Islam.

"The war is not against Muslims but terrorists. It is not a war on culture or religion," he said.

Norian said Mueller's visit would strengthen close relations between Malaysian police and the FBI.

"We exchanged views and discussed views on ways to enhance ties," he said, adding that the FBI chief thanked Malaysia for its efforts to beat terrorism.