The government's attempt to link the acting PAS president to the support of terrorism through his presence at a conference in Makassar two years ago deserves nothing but derision.

It is so transparently a political ploy against PAS and obviously not motivated by any concern for national security. Otherwise, why not investigate the matter as soon as the authorities were informed of it two years ago? After all, Abdul Hadi Awang's arrival in Indonesia to attend the said conference was greeted by the Malaysian ambassador.

Perhaps the government did not know then that some other individuals who attended the conference might have links to terrorist activities. Well, if that was so, how would anyone expect Abdul Hadi himself to know?

Perhaps Abdul Hadi did know and was using the occassion to huddle with those individuals for sinister motives. Well, fancy using a highly publicised conference (at least in Indonesia) presided over by the Indonesian defence minister and attended by that country's senior government officials for such a purpose. And what kind of leverage did Abdul Hadi have over the Hassanuddin University that it would issue an invitation to him just when he needed o­ne for a cover?

All in all, the government's attempt to portray linkage and all its insidious implications is beyond tenuous. It is thoroughly laughable. And would o­nly result in its dwindling credibility to erode even further.

As for the Star newspaper and its editor, Wong Chun Wai, who tried to get this ridiculous guilt-by-association bandwagon rolling, I would suggest that there are other meatier subjects which they ought to explore, for instance, the spate of allegations against the current MCA president including o­ne which publicly branded the MCA president a liar.

Surely the integrity of a government leader is a matter for concern as much as terrorism. The Star and Wong have been highly notable and conspicuous in their zero to minimal coverage of this particular affair. I wonder why that is.