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Malaysia denounces Muslim raids
SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- Australia's tough line against suspected Muslim militants is provoking a broadside of criticism internally and from outside the country, including a warning from Malaysia's leader that Australia isn't safe for Muslims. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has accused Australia's Prime Minister John Howard of using last week's Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) raids to persecute Muslims. "Australia is particularly unsafe for Muslims because they are likely to have their houses raided," Mahathir said. "I think Australia is as unsafe as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. I see pictures of doors being broken, which I don't think is essential," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper. Australia has rejected the claim. 'Anti-Asian'"Australian authorities should interrogate people who do have links with terrorist organizations," Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer commented. In Jakarta for talks with Australia's critics, a member of the Australian opposition party took a stronger stance. "I regard these most recent comments from President Mahathir as wrongheaded and in fact grossly insensitive," said Kevin Rudd, an Australian Labor party MP. But another Labor party front-bencher blames the Australian prime minister for turning his back on Asia in favor of the United States. "Maybe the prime minister just hasn't changed his spots. He just doesn't like Asians," said MP Craig Emerson, who went on to accuse the Australian leader of being a racist. "John Howard has demonstrated over many years now that he is anti-Asian," claimed Emerson. RaidsAn undisclosed number of homes in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth were raided last week by Australian Federal Police officers and agents from ASIO. The raids were reportedly designed to gather evidence of activities by the newly banned terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Earlier, Howard hinted that there was more evidence of JI involvement by those raided than there appeared on the surface but would not be drawn on details for security reasons. Australia's Attorney-General Daryl Williams earlier confirmed that Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the group's alleged leader, and a co-founder of JI, Abdullah Sungkar, had visited Australia 11 times with the purpose of establishing a JI cell in Australia. -- Journalist Greg Milne contributed to this report
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