A Burmese journalist, who was abducted and detained for 12 hours last week, today asked the Malaysian authorities to reveal whether there are any Burmese secret police operating in this country.

Ko Minn Kyaw Minn, editor of fortnightly magazine Burma Media Link - who was kidnapped and interrogated by people who claimed to be from Malaysia's police Special Branch on June 1 - claimed that some of his abductors were Burmese.

"I wish to convey my strong appeal to all the relevant authorities in Malaysia to investigate ... whether there are, and how many, Burmese military police are ... operating inside Malaysia especially those who are assigned to monitor, harass and prosecute exile Burmese...," he said.

Minn Kyaw, who is married to a Malaysian, believes that such political abductions will continue in Malaysia if no action is taken.

He said the existence of Burmese special police will pose a serious threat to the safety of Burmese political refugees in the country and will also tarnish Malaysia's image.

Minn Kyaw, who is also known as Azman Ali Adam, was forced off the road by two unmarked cars while driving to the airport in Kuala Lumpur with his wife, Yussra Shahril, to cover the arrival of Burmese premier Khin Nyunt .

He said three men, who identified themselves as officials from the Special Branch, handcuffed him and put a black hood over his head.

Minn Kyaw was driven to an unknown location, where he was interrogated about the funding of his magazine and his pro-democracy activities.

He claimed that five persons took turns to question and assault him, including the two Malaysians and a Burmese woman .

Burmese embassy official ticked off

Meanwhile, Minn Kyaw lambasted Burmese embassy's second secretary Myint Thein Win for flippantly dismissing his abduction.

"The embassy will not investigate the case as it is not important. We know who this character (Minn Kyaw) is. He has been involved in demos at the embassy," Myint Thein had earlier told malaysiakini .

Minn Kyaw accused the Burmese embassy official of seeking to divert attention from his abduction.

"Instead of diverting the issue, he should answer the Malaysian authorities and public as to why there are Burmese special police freely doing such uncivilised political crime to Burmese political dissidents in another country," said Minn Kyaw.

"And, who is actually giving them the immunity and mandate to do such political repression and crimes...?"