The horrific bombings in Bali have driven home a few hard messages to the governments of the region. Hardly an isolated occurrence, the seventh bombing in the last three weeks that has shaken Southeast Asia must surely be viewed as confirmation that the war on terror is not one confined to 'other' regions of the world.

With our economies barely out of their moribund state and bleeding foreign direct investment (FDI) to China and other more favourable destinations, countries like Malaysia and Indonesia can only lose out in a myriad of ways with the arrival of such fundamentalism on our shores.

Economically, tourism has contributed tremendously to national income, especially these last few years. In the eyes of tourists however, the bombings, and the incessant lumping of all nations in this region as being threatened by organisations like the Jemaah Islamiah can only point to bleak years ahead, as tourists pick less volatile spots elsewhere to spend their dollars.

Politically, we now stand close to being (if we have not already been) ranked alongside nations like Pakistan, regarded as unstable and unsafe regions.

In the eyes of fundamentalists, there is no difference between Malaysia and say, the United States. Where there are westerners and their perceived allies, there lies fair game. The cowardly act of bombing innocent civilians is sanctioned, even seen as a religious act.

Malaysia and Indonesia — provided she has the political will — must act fast and hard to deny these cowards a hollow victory in this war. Hollow, because the spoils of war are enjoyed by a few, the terrorists who enjoy prestige among their kind, while the many millions of others suffer from their evil.