Kuala Lumpur: Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein Saturday described as dangerous the remark by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra that suspected Islamic militants in Thailand had been trained in Malaysia, and urged him to stop making such accusations.Hishammuddin, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth chief, said the statement by Thaksin yesterday, was purportedly aimed at diverting world attention from what was happening in southern Thailand and to imply that Malaysia was a breeding ground for terrorists.
"I want to ask him (Thaksin) whether all those killed in the tragedy in southern Thailand (Tak Bai incident where 87 people died) recently ... got their training in our religious schools."
"Don't make wild allegations because it is very dangerous for a progressive nation to point fingers at another country," he said when commenting on Thaksin's statement that some of the suspected Islamic militants had received military training in Malaysia.
Earlier, Hishammuddin, who is Education Minister, presented prizes to the winners of Malaysia's first Arabic and Chinese Calligraphy Competition at the Museum of Islamic Arts, here.
Hishamuddin said he hoped that Thaksin would stop involving Malaysia with the violence in southern Thailand.
"What is happening in southern Thailand has to do with the socio-economic conditions there... don't use Malaysia or our schools or any other country as an excuse for your actions (against residents in southern Thailand), which I see has received worldwide condemnation," he said.
On other issues, Hishammuddin said he agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement yesterday that Australia's proposal to create a maritime monitoring zone of 1,000 nautical miles that extended beyond Indonesia as a controversial action which could create tension among countries in the region.- Bernama
