Members of the Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM) who were recently detained under the Internal Security Act had been trained by the Taliban and the al-Qaeda terror network, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

Based on police investigations, the premier said there was a link between KMM and the al-Qaeda but it is uncertain whether the terror network blamed for the Sept 11 attacks on the United States has local cells.

"What we do know is that they (those detained) admitted to being trained in Afghanistan by the Taliban and Osama's organisation. Whether they (the al-Qaeda) have cells in Malaysian or not, and whether they are working independently or not, we don't know.

"But as far as we are concerned their (KMM) intentions are very bad, namely to create trouble and to try to overthrow the government by terrorist means," he said after attending the launch of the Malay Chamber of Commerce's new youth wing in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked if more arrests would come, the premier said he didn't know but added, "If you have some information we would arrest them".

In an interview published by Japanese magazine Chuokoron yesterday, Mahathir had said that 50 Malaysians were involved in the al-Qaeda network.

Between Dec 9 and Jan 3, police detained 13 people alleged to be members of a new wing of the KMM under the ISA.

Among others, the 13 were detained on charges that they had acted to jeopardise national security by plotting to establish a Dauliah Ismaliah (Islamic government) encompassing Malaysia, Indonesia and southern Philippines.

Last year, 25 alleged KMM members, including Nik Adli, the son of PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat, were arrested under the ISA. Police claimed that Nik Adli was the ringleader.

Preventive measure

Meanwhile, in defending the arrests under the ISA, Mahathir said the security law was used to prevent the KMM from committing crimes and creating havoc in the country.

"When they are involved in a crime if we can find proof we will try them, but the ISA is a preventive law.

"It would be nice if they commit a crime first but it would be unfortunate if we allow them to kill, commit a crime and then try the person. Our idea is before they kill we arrest them first," said the premier.

The government's failure to provide detailed evidence drew criticism from several quarters who urged that the detainees be charged in court.

Asked if the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) would be given proper access to the detainees, Mahathir replied:"We have given them (Suhakam) more lee way than any other country," he replied.

Yesterday, the family members of the 13 detainees sent a memorandum to Suhakam urging the commission to visit the detainees.