Malaysia dismisses US terror warning

South-East Asia is on alert after the Bali bombing

Malaysia has angrily dismissed a US warning that Malaysia could be the target of a terrorist attack.

The US state department on Wednesday issued a statement warning of "continuing concern about the possible heightened risks to American citizens and American interests in Malaysia, especially in the state of Sabah."

The warning follows last month's nightclub bombing on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali in which at least 190 people were killed.

Sabah is as peaceful as ever and we continue to receive visitors from all over the world

Chong Kah Kiat
Sabah Chief Minister

But Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia was taking all necessary security measures.

"It is unsafe to visit some of these same countries that are issuing such advisories about Southeast Asia," he said.

Washington is particularly concerned about the Abu Sayyaf militant group, which is based in the southern Philippines near Sabah and has been linked to al-Qaeda.

The Abu Sayyaf is best known for a string of kidnappings of foreigners and Christians, and is also linked to a series of deadly bomb attacks. In 2000 it twice raided tourist islands in Sabah and abducted Western tourists, later freed for ransom.

Sabah Chief Minister Chong Kah Kiat rejected the US warning.

"I fully understand the Americans being paranoid in pointing fingers against everyone and everywhere over these suspected activities of terrorists," Mr Chong said in a statement.

"Sabah is as peaceful as ever and we continue to receive visitors from all over the world."

US-Philippine links

US troops spent six months earlier this year helping train Philippine troops to combat the Abu Sayyaf. On Thursday the two countries finalised a five-year military logistics agreement aimed at strengthening their fight against terror.

The agreement allows for "reciprocal logistic support" for exercises and training, as well as "other co-operative efforts" such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and rescue operations.

The agreement specifies that no US military base, facility or permanent structure will be allowed.

Any move to allow a US base would have been highly controversial as nationalists fear any greater involvement of the former colonial power could erode the Philippines' sovereignty.

The two armies will be able to exchange supplies such as food, water and fuel, and support service such as transportation, communications and medical services.

It will not allow for the transfer of major armaments, but some US military equipment can be transferred to the Filipino troops, including about 200 trucks.