The government does not consider Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong 'extremist' despite its vocal opposition to the language switch policy, said Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Hueng ( photo ) today.

He said the Home Ministry divides extremists into two categories religious and racial. The education movement does not fall under any of the two.

"They are not considered extremist. We (the ministry) do not think so...usually those who deliver their opinions in a non-extreme way, we accept them," he added when met at the Parliament lobby.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had branded the movement "extremist" when it opposed Umno's proposal that Science and Mathematics be taught in English for all schools.

The movement wanted the mother tongue to be retained as the medium of instruction for the two subjects in Chinese schools.

The premier whose initial idea to revive English-medium schools to arrest the decline of students' proficiency in the language was shot down by the Umno supreme council had also warned the movement not to "play with fire".

Commenting on this, Chor said: "The prime minister felt that if they were to go over the limit, then that would result in them becoming extremists".

Dong Jiao Zong is the collective name for the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) and United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong).

Two groups

Earlier, Chor told the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia has two groups of extremists religious and racial.

He added that to date only members of the Malaysian Mujahidin Group or KMM have been arrested for religious extremism.

KMM was said to be part of a regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah that was linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.

The deputy minister was replying to a question from Che Ghani Che Ambak (PAS-Setiu) who asked the ministry to state the definition of an extremist and the action taken to overcome the problem of extremism.

In his explanation, Chor said religious extremists are those who misuse religion by making their own interpretation on certain issues to satisfy personal agendas and benefits.

He added that the second group plays on racial sentiments such as the issues of language and customs without considering the feelings of other ethnic groups.

"Extremists are always very obedient to their leaders and are willing to sacrifice their property and lives," he said.

The deputy minister added that these extremists usually organise their activities in rural areas.

"So far, no individuals or groups have been branded as extremists unless they are linked to KMM. Opposition parties also haven't reached this level," he said.

Chor said the government will continue monitoring individuals and groups whose activities deviate from the mainstream.

Using ISA

In a supplementary question, Mastika Junaidah Husin (BN-Arau) questioned about the use of the Internal Security Act to control extremism.

Responding on this, the deputy minister said 146 people are still detained under the security law which was enacted in 1960, but only 41 of them were involved in militant activities.

He told reporters later that no one has been arrested under the law for political reasons, rather that their activities were prejudicial to national security.

"The ISA will be used against anyone who is an extremist and can lead us to destruction, whether the individual is from BN (Barisan Nasional) or the opposition," he said.