(AFP) Revelations that four locals are suspected of involvement in a series of bombings in Indonesia sparked concerns here of growing Islamic militancy.

"There is an undeniable rise of extreme forces in this country," said the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, a view echoed by spokesmen from both the government and a major opposition party.

They were reacting to reports that Jakarta police had identified three more Malaysian suspects among a group of 10 believed to be responsible for the bombings of two churches and a shopping mall in Jakarta.

Police had earlier detained a 26-year-old Johor-born suspect, Taufik Abdul Halim, who was injured in the August 1 bombing of the Atrium mall.

Jakarta Metro police information chief Anton Bahrul Alam told the Bernama news agency that the trio were known only as Darwin alias Asep, Diki alias Rusli and Agus alias Abas.

"We are still looking for the whereabouts of the three suspects and the rest," he added.

Local newspapers reported that police had launched an investigation to establish whether the four had links to the so-called "Malaysian Mujahidin Group" (KMM).

All-party conference

The group is accused of waging a "holy war" here and is blamed for a spate of crimes including robbery, murder and bombing a church and an Indian temple.

Ten alleged members of the group, including seven members of the PAS, were detained without trial last month under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Authorities say the Mujahidin group was uncovered in June when nine people were arrested after a botched robbery.

This came almost a year after members of the Al-Ma'unah cult sparked a national security alarm when they raided two armouries and seized more than 100 firearms.

DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang told AFP today that the news from Jakarta was disturbing.

"It definitely raises concerns about rising Islamic militancy which will be a danger to the fabric of our multi-racial society," he said.

Lim urged the government to convene an all-party conference to ensure the issue would not be exploited as a "political football".

Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government M. Kayveas blamed PAS's "overemphasis on religion" for rising Islamic extremism.

"I think PAS is going out of hand. All this indicates that they are playing with fire. It has no other weapon to attack the (ruling) Barisan Nasional except by overindulging in religion," he said.

Islamist force

Abdul Razak Baginda, executive director of the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, said "extreme forces of Islam" were growing, with many apparently from PAS, which is pressing for an Islamic state.

He said the Taliban militia ruling Afghanistan, which in March destroyed ancient Buddha statues, was a strong influence.

"Groups here with similar leanings are inspired by that and see it as continuing the Taliban struggle. They see themselves as Islamists first, rather than as Malaysians, which is why they moved beyond the boundaries to Jakarta," Abdul Razak said.

"There is an undeniable rise of extreme forces in this country but my feeling is that it's more international than domestic."

PAS has criticised the detention of the 10 under the ISA, including its spiritual leader's son accused of being the ringleader, and plans to file habeas corpus applications to free them.

PAS youth chief Mahfuz Omar said there was no evidence of their wrongdoing so far and accused the government of "trying to label our members as extremists" to curb the party's appeal among ethnic Malays.

"If ever such extreme groups exist, this is because democratic freedom here is repressed and they feel there is no other way but to resort to militancy," he said.