The United States' future actions in Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region in combatting terrorism will not be restricted to military action but will involve efforts in many areas, said the US embassy today.

The embassy was reacting to a New York Times report yesterday which said that Malaysia was among the likely targets for future American "covert and overt" actions.

Quoting the US State Department spokesperson, Richard Boucher, the embassy released a statement which said the US was working "very well" with the governments in this region to battle terrorism.

"An international campaign against terrorism includes efforts in many areas: economic, political, diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, information and intelligence sharing, not just a military component," said Boucher.

"One should not assume from any particular indication of interest on our part of working with somebody or working against terrorist groups that the next step is automatically military action," he added.

The embassy also said it remained in close contact with the Malaysian government and is continuing to work to ensure security in this region.

"The US embassy greatly appreciates the support the Malaysian government has given us and for its strong stand against international terrorism," it stressed.

Operations expanded

The New York Times report titled 'American action is held likely in Asia' quoted unnamed US officials as saying that Malaysia, along with the Philippines and Indonesia, could be targets of "covert and overt American actions".

The report said there was no timetable for the planned actions and that the terrorist groups here "have expanded their operations in recent years, exchanging money, personnel, material and experience with the Osama bin Laden organisation and its allies, and that they pose a clear and present danger to American institutions overseas".

Osama's Al-Qaeda network has been involved in a "concerted effort to expand their activities" to this region, with the Philippines becoming a major operational hub, it added.

Saudi militant Osama and his network of terrorists have been blamed for the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington which resulted in the death of almost 6,000 people.

Provide information

The report was also raised in Parliament today with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi questioning the validity of the article.

However, the deputy premier said that if the report was true then the US should furnish local authorities with the necessary information.

"America needs to tell us which groups are involved, who are involved, whether they are Malaysians or foreigners who have a base here to carry out such violent activities so that we can help them and cooperate with them to eliminate these terrorists," he told the house.

Abdullah also said there was no reason to panic as Malaysia's stand on terrorism was clear and the US government is aware of this.

Malay Mail report

The embassy also made a clarification over a Malay Mail front-page report today which it (the embassy) said was "provocative".

According to the US embassy, the headline - which read "Target Malaysia: Not right now, says Powell"- had caused unnecessary alarm to the people here.

It also attached the exact transcription of Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement yesterday in responding to a question regarding possible military strikes in Southeast Asia.

Powell had said: "There are no plans that are about to come down the pike with respect to the kinds of actions that you are suggesting. We will take these things one at a time."

'Self-inflicted wounds'

Meanwhile DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said the government and other quarters should avoid causing "self-inflicted wounds" to the nation.

He said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's declaration that Malaysia was an Islamic state and PAS' declaration of jihad (holy war) over the military attacks in Afghanistan were examples of such self-inflicted wounds that should be avoided.

Lim said that it was important to ensure that the country's "struggling economy" does not move into recession.