Deputy Information Minister Zainudin Maidin today called on the opposition DAP to support all government efforts to combat militant activities in Malaysia, even with the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA), which provides for detention without trial.

He said the fact was that Malaysia was an Islamic nation practising the western concept of democracy which differed from that of other Islamic countries.

All laws approved had gone through Parliament and had been passed with the support of Muslims and non-Muslims, Bernama quoted him as saying

Zainudin was responding to a call by DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang yesterday to the government to issue a White Paper to correct the misconception among the international community following reports labelling Malaysia as a centre for terrorists.

Tarnish nation's image

"There is no basis for the DAP to raise suspicion on the Barisan Nasional (BN) Islamic state. This is what the DAP is doing with its distribution of pamphlets, and let them face police action from time to time. Their efforts are more towards tarnishing the country's image and trying to instil fear among non-Muslims.

"I do not think the DAP request (on White Paper) is sincere; it is aimed more at creating more suspicion on Islam in Malaysia," he said.

"The campaigns being conducted by the DAP now do not help, in fact they are aggravating the situation, causing confusion among the people instead of improving Malaysia's image locally and abroad," he said.

While DAP claimed its request was aimed at improving the country's image, the party's campaigns seemed to give the impression that Malaysia would become a country which lacked tolerance, Zainudin added.

Thus, it would be better for the DAP to support the support all government efforts to combat militant activities in Malaysia, even with the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA), the deputy minister said.