HOME MINISTER WANTS POLICE TO KEEP INFORMATION ON JI CONFIDENTIAL

KULIM (Malaysia), June 26 (Bernama) -- The Home Ministry will request police
to ensure all investigation and intelligence reports on militant groups like
Jemaah Islamiah (JI) remain confidential and not leaked to the public.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said since a special team
formed to look into the issue of militants was in the process of conducting a
closed-door briefing to relevant authorities like vice chancellors and
university lecturers, he had requested Federal Police Chief Musa Hassan
to ensure that such information does not leak to the public.

He said if such confidential information leaked, it would lead to all types
of unwarranted and baseless accusations and pose a danger to those carrying out
their duties, especially the police.

"Just because we want to be transparent, we do not want any undesired
incidents to happen. There will also be some who may try to manipulate or
exploit the situation which can pose a threat to security.

"For example, there are some who claimed that police had linked Wahabi with
terrorists and that is a baseless claim," he told reporters Saturday.

On June 14, Musa Hassan had said that since early this year, 10 foreigners
were detained on suspicion of having been involved in activities of the JI
extremist group to revive its struggle by recruiting youths, including
university students.

Hishammuddin said the duty of the police is to prevent terrorism and they do
not mix the ideology of religion or politics.

"The issue is terrorism...we do not consider religion, politics, back ground
and colour of skin. We do not only track down JI members who are Muslims but we
also keep track of militants who are from other religions," he said.

-- BERNAMA