The Federal Bureau of Investigations clearing of Malaysia from any collusion to the Sept 11 terror attacks will boost foreign investors confidence, said Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

According to a Bernama report today, the deputy premier said the FBIs statement would allay foreign investors concern of their investments in the country.

Abdullah added it was a positive statement as the FBI director himself had dismissed the reports linking Malaysia to the attacks as inaccurate.

The statement, the deputy premier stressed, would also remove any fear foreign investors may have about investing here.

FBI director Robert S Mueller, who was on a working visit to Malaysia, said on Thursday his bureau does not consider Malaysia as a launchpad for the Sept 11 attacks.

Since the attacks, Malaysias name has surfaced on numerous occasions much to the chagrin of the government.

Terror launchpad

The latest controversy was a recent Newsweek article which claimed Malaysia was the launchpad for the attacks. The article quoted an FBI report.

The article said US intelligence sources believed a former Malaysian army captain, Yazid Sufaat, who is currently being held under the Internal Security Act, helped develop a support network for Osama bin Laden in Malaysia and throughout Southeast Asia.

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

The article added he also met two of the Sept 11 hijackers in Jan 2000.

However Mueller, when asked to comment on the article, said it was inaccurate.

"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," said the FBI chief.

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