I am an 'old hand' in Asia who lived many years in Sabah. Obviously, David is not my real name but I write in the hope that I can shed some light on current events.

Malaysia is not the only country to have supported the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) (from whence came the Moro Islamic Liberation Front [MILF], which Malaysia is linked with in Dr Rohan Gunaratna's book Inside Al-Qaeda: Global Network of Terror ) and as such, any 'links' to al-Qaeda via this channel is extremely speculative.

Please note I have no love for Barisan Nasional or Islamic fundamentalists such as PAS but this terror-link business is just a sham for all concerned. The whole terrorist business is a convoluted mess and there is more than one layer to all of it. Before the world is dissolved under a storm of accusations and denials on all sides, a look at the timeline is warranted.

Malaysia's involvement with the MNLF is old and pre al-Qaeda. And they are not the only ones so involved.

As far as I am aware (but no one knows for sure) both the KGB and CIA may well have had provided funds/training to various Islamic separatist movements in the area over the past 30 years or more.

In one of the most curious twists in the Cold War, the US via the CIA funded the provision of KGB-trained advisors to these groups. The reason I was given to believe was that the US wished to maintain a presence in the Philippines but were being pressured to pay more rent for their naval installations.

The US was under internal pressure to cut defence spending. US intelligence community felt a destabilised Mindanao would provide the right level of nervousness in Manila to seek the 'protection' of Uncle Sam and keep the rent down on the US Navy's base. The KGB advisors were used as a 'smokescreen' to hide CIA money.

My source was then an MNLF member whose description of anti-aircraft handheld surface-to-air missiles convinced me he was genuine. He was illiterate but gave an excellent and technically correct account of the use of infra-red-seeking surface-to-air missiles in the field.

Historically, Malaysia via the state of Sabah acted as a go-between with Libya and brokered arms deals in this manner.

My source here is from Sabah and is backed by historical reference to the late Mustapha Harun's frequent trips to London and his documented contacts with Muammur Gadaffi in Libya. This was a long time ago and long before Osama bin Laden was out of nappies to lead the terrorist world.

Malaysia (Sabah) has also acted as a home away from home to various groups when things got 'hot' in Mindanao and has done so under various local governments for a long time, including during Harris Salleh's time.

This included numerous blue identity card 'ops' from within the Immigration Department. The happy coincidence is that these same blue ICs then voted to keep the government in. The 'phantom voters' issue is old news in Sabah.

My source on IC 'ops' was then a staff member of the Immigration Department and this was confirmed as true by Filipino MNLF members themselves who held government-issued blue ICs.

My point is this: Malaysia which has given its support to the US in the war against terror and al-Qaeda militants have both been bankrolling and supporting Islamic terrorism in Mindanao for over a quarter of a century. But take it from me, neither is going to admit it.

I write in the hope that my many friends in Malaysia of all religions will not be forced to take sides across a religious divide fuelled by ignorance.

It is not about religion here but power and corruption trying to hide behind a smokescreen. Sadly, many good Muslims are foolishly drawn into supporting a false and violent vision of the world just because another Muslim says it is so.

The truth is that terrorism knows no borders and respects no religion. It is found in all countries and all religions and all shades of politics. It is a fundamental evil that denies and threatens human rights.

Do not play 'the game'.