SINGAPORE (AFP) - Singapore and Malaysia will work together in the fight against terrorists operating in the region, according to a report in Singapore's Sunday Times .

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi yesterday and discussed terrorist threats facing Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia.

Goh said he raised his concern about the threats in Malaysia from terrorist groups.

"And of course, we would cooperate in terms of intelligence sharing, on trying to eradicate these terrorist cells within the region," Goh told the local media after their meeting, held on the sidelines of goodwill games between the two countries' officials.

Abdullah, who is also home affairs minister, said Malaysia would stay firm in the fight against terror.

"We will act against any militant group, irrespective of religion and race," he said.

Malaysia which condemned the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, opposes retaliatory strikes in Afghanistan, saying they will kill innocent people without ending terrorism.

Singapore has however given its unequivocal support for the US-led strikes in Afghanistan.

KMM dicussed

Goh and Abdullah also talked about the Kumpulan Mujahideen Malaysia (KMM).

Abdullah, quoted by Bernama , said that Goh "wants to know the latest developments in Malaysia especially the activities of KMM and the announcement by the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Malaysia is an Islamic state."

"I told him what it is all about, he said he understood and believes that Malaysia under the leadership of Dr Mahathir and Barisan Nasional would be moderate," Abdullah added.

In Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir said yesterday that the government will crack down on Islamic extremists because it does not want Malaysia's people to be oppressed like those in Afghanistan.

Groups which persuade students to focus only on religious education and to be politically active at the expense of other knowledge were actually "betraying the Islamic teachings", he said.

The government would clamp down on those opposing the "true teachings of Islam", Mahathir was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The government has in recent months arrested a total of 15 people believed to be active in the KMM, which has been blamed for a spate of crimes including bombings of a church and a temple.