Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has criticised Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for claiming that the government intentionally politicised the issue of the threat from regional terror group Jemaah Islamiah.

 

He said Anwar would have been well-informed of the threat posed by the group because it was present even when he was the deputy prime minister.

"He should not manipulate the issue when he is now on the side of the opposition because he has the background on matters which involve national security issues," he told reporters after the presentation of the armed forces academic excellence awards in Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Zahid was asked to comment on the allegation by Anwar that the government intentionally raised the JI issue to divert the people's attention away from other matters.

PAS: Tell us more

On June 14, inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said 10 foreigners were detained on suspicion of having been involved in activities of the JI extremist group since early this year.

Musa said all the suspects, in their 30s, were deported to their countries to be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, PAS members of parliament urged Prime Minister Najib Razak and Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin to explain the issue of the JI activities at institutions of higher learning.

This matter was serious and the government should provide a detailed explanation on it in the Dewan Rakyat, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub told a news conference at the Parliament lobby.

- Bernama