Two opposition leaders today hit out at the government for allowing the US-proposed regional anti-terrorism centre to be set up in the country.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader and PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang cautioned that the centre may open the door to the US to interfere in the country's security policy while DAP Wanita chief Chong Eng said the centre may make Malaysia more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

The duo were expressing their views in separate interviews with malaysiakini in Parliament today.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell had first proposed the idea of the anti-terrorism centre during a recent visit to Malaysia.

US President George W Bush announced the centre set-up on Sunday at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' summit in Mexico after procuring Malaysia's agreement to the proposal.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the same meeting that Malaysia had agreed to the proposed centre which is scheduled to start operation early next year.

He said the centre would focus on training and capacity building to counter the growing terrorism threat in the region, but would not involve any military training.

Colonialism fears

Abdul Hadi, in an interview with malaysiakini and PAS' Harakah in his room in Parliament, said that the agreement had shown the weaknesses of Barisan Nasional in handling international politics.

"It (proposal) would only give lattitude for the US to interfere in the country's administration.

"While the US can send their officers to investigate the recent attacks in Bali and the Philippines, we do not know if the establishment of the anti-terrorism centre will enable FBI and CIA agents to simply enter our country and interfere with the country's security," he said.

The opposition leader said the approval for the centre should be seen as "opening a door for foreign power" to come into the country and could be viewed as a new form of colonialism which Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself opposes.

"The approval is due to fear and pressure from the US, pressure from their super power in politics and economics, and the government is bowing to it," he asserted.

No debate

DAP's Chong questioned why the proposal was not brought for debate in Parliament before the government agreed to it as it involved the security of the country.

"It is important. It not only involves the people in the ruling government, but it also may affect you and me, and those in the opposition," she said.

She said while the proposal can be viewed as a recognition by the US government of the country's effort in halting the spread of terrorism, it also has its drawbacks.

"The proposal would expose Malaysia as a target of terrorists and increase the possibility of the country being attacked as those terrorists are fighting against the US," she said.

She urged the government to seriously reconsider the proposal before proceeding any further.

Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak, in an earlier report by Bernama , had dismissed the suggestion that the proposed centre could become a prime terrorist target as the foreign presence is expected to be insignificant.