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Abdullah should end the confusing and conflicting statements by the Deputy Home Minister and Inspector-General of Police and clarify whether the Malaysian government has taken a new policy stand to hand over Malaysians who are terrorist suspects wanted by Indonesia without observing any formalities or legalities Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Penang, Wednesday): The statement by the Deputy Home Minister, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin in Marang yesterday has raised the eyebrows of many discerning Malaysians, prompting the question whether the Malaysian Government has taken a new policy stand to hand over Malaysians who are terrorist suspects wanted by Indonesia without observing any formalities or legalities. Zainal Abidin said that the two Malaysians wanted by the Indonesian police in connection with the Oct. 12 Bali bombings, University Teknologi Malaysia lecturer Dr. Azahari Husin, who is believed to be an expert with explosives, and Noor Din Muhammad Top, are also wanted by the Malaysian police as they are a "threat to security …not only dangerous outside the country but also a threat in the country". Hazarding the guess that the two are probably hiding in the Philippines or Thailand or could even have escaped to Pakistan or Afghanistan, Zainal Abidin said: "We will give full co-operation to the Indonesian Government. If they are here, they will be handed over to Indonesia." (New Straits Times) The Deputy Home Minister's statement is most surprising for two reasons: Firstly, the statement by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Jamil Johari that the Malaysian authorities had no evidence that Azahari and Noor Din were involved in the Bali attacks. Secondly, the conflicting position announced by the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Norian Mai, two weeks ago when he rejected suggestions that the Indonesian Police be allowed to send investigators to Malaysia to interrogate Internal Security Act detainee, Wan Min Wan Mat in connection with the Bali bombings which killed 192 people, mostly foreigners. Norian Mai said the role played by Wan Min in the Bali bombings could be ascertained by police without the detainee being questioned by the Indonesian investigators. Norian Mai said: "At the moment, there's no need for the Indonesian investigators to be granted access to interview the detainees. "If they (Indonesian police) require any clarification, they can do so with our assistance. We can do whatever questioning that needs to be done." (New Straits Times 13.12.02) Has Zainal Abidin's statement in Marang yesterday overridden and superseded the conflicting position taken by Norian Mai two weeks ago? Wan Min, believed to be the treasurer for the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), was detained last September after he slipped into Kelantan from Southern Thailand. Indonesians claim that Wan Min, acting on Riduan Ismaudin's alias Hambali's instructions, had "passed over" US$30,000 (RM114,000) to Mukhlas, currently in Indonesian policy custody for being the alleged JI operations chief for the Bali bombings. The Police and Home Ministry should synchronise their positions or explain why the Malaysian government had refused to allow the Indonesian police even access to Wan Min in ISA custody for interrogation as was allowed to FBI investigators in the case of another ISA detainee and suspected JI operative Sufaat Yazid but yet could give a blank cheque to hand over Azahari and Noor Din to the Indonesian authorities if they are apprehended by the Malaysian authorities! Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Home Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should end the confusing and conflicting statements by the Deputy Home Minister and Inspector-General of Police and clarify whether the Malaysian government has adopted a new policy stand to hand over Malaysians who are terrorist suspects wanted by Indonesia without observing any formalities or legalities (25/12/2002) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman