Malaysia will seek permission from the United States to question top Jemaah Islamiah terror group suspect Hambali, a report said today.

Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told The Star newspaper Malaysia wanted to interrogate Hambali because they believed the militant's activities affected the country's security.

"I am sure the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) will allow us to question Hambali if our police chief Norian Mai can convince them that his activities can affect our country's security," Zainal said.

Hambali formerly enjoyed permanent residency status in Malaysia before it was revoked. The alleged architect of the Bali bombings and a string of other bloody attacks in Asia, Hambali was captured last Monday in the central Thai city of Ayuthaya and taken into US custody.

His Malaysian wife, Noralwizah Lee Abdullah, is currently in Malaysian police custody for questioning.

Terror network

Indonesian officials said Hambali was involved in blasts in seven Indonesian cities, and they too hoped to seek access to the detained suspect in an effort to prevent further terror attacks.

US President George W Bush has pledged to share information from his US-led interrogation with Indonesia.

Hambali, an ally of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and top operational leader of regional terror group Jemaah Islamiah (JI), is wanted in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Born Riduan Isamuddin in Indonesia in 1966, he arrived in Malaysia in 1985 before leaving to fight in the anti-Soviet campaign in Afghanistan from 1987 until 1991.

He returned, married and settled in the quiet village of Sungai Manggis about an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur.

There, inspired by what he had learned from the al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, he allegedly built JI into a terror network with fellow villager and Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.

Bashir is now on trial in Jakarta for plotting to overthrow the government and to set up an Islamic state. - AFP