In an attempt to smooth the ruffled feathers of International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Peter Varghese had sent her a letter explaining that the use of sniffer dogs on her baggage in Sydney was non-discriminatory and merely for security purposes.

In the letter dated Nov 22, the envoy said security officials at the World Trade Organisation meeting attended by the minister had checked the luggage of all delegates at some point or other.

He stressed that Rafidah was not specifically singled out.

"The New South Wales Police, who were responsible for security during the meeting, confirmed that bomb detection dogs were used to check the luggage, including cabin luggage, of all ministers and delegates without exception," he said in the letter made available to the media today.

Varghese ended his posting here on Nov 30. He will be replaced by James Wise who is expected to assume office in January.

Rafidah had criticised Australia's security officials for "treating her like a terrorist" during her visit there two weeks ago.

The minister said officials demanded that her hand-luggage be checked by sniffer dogs at the Sydney airport and a hotel, but pointed out that delegates from Indonesia were not required to undergo the same security procedure.

Varghese said in the letter that ministers from South Korea and Indonesia did not have their bags checked at the airport because they had bilateral programmes in Sydney.

"The NSW Police has however assured...that (the ministers') bags were checked by bomb detection dogs when the ministers subsequently returned to the VIP lounge at the airport prior to travelling to the (WTO) meeting venue," he said.

Secure zone

The envoy explained that Rafidah had to undergo another sniffer dog search at the hotel where the WTO meeting took place because the hotel and area within a perimeter had been designated a "secure zone".

"The hotel was systematically searched prior to arrival of delegates to ensure that no threat was posed to invited ministers, delegates, hotel staff and other persons entering the site.

"All persons subsequently entering the secure zone were subject to strict security procedures, including searches, as had been advised formally in advance of the meeting," he said.

Varghese also assured the minister that an 'Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Washington' seal used on her admission pass was merely due to administrative convenience and did not imply that security arrangements for her had been vetted through Washington.

Rafidah had questioned this since different 'DFAT Canberra' security seals were used for other delegates.

"I have been advised that approximately 600 passes were produced for the meeting to cover ministers, accompanying officials, organisers and the media. When 'DFAT Canberra' seals ran out, other tamper proof seals were used.

"I can assure you that the use of this seal in no way implies that the security arrangements had been vetted through Washington in respect of you or any other minister or delegate attending the meeting," the envoy said.

Prior to this, Rafidah had also met Varghese to voice her dissatisfaction over the matter.

This latest incident chalks another low point for bilateral relations between Malaysia and Australia.

Deputy sheriff

Last week, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad started a war of words with several Australian ministers when he said that Australia would never be accepted by Asean countries if it persisted in behaving as the United States' "deputy sheriff".

Relations between the two countries took a further blow yesterday when Australian Prime Minister John Howard threatened to launch pre-emptive strikes in neighbouring countries to prevent terrorist attacks.

This is also not the first time that tightened security at airports and other locations raised the ire of Malaysian ministers.

In September, several parliamentarians slammed US security officials at the Los Angeles airport for asking Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to remove his shoes and belt for security screening measures.

Abdullah later downplayed the incident saying that he was asked to do so after setting off a metal detector.