Kuala Lumpur, Aug 18: Malaysia will seek permission from the United States to question top Jemaah Islamiyah terror group suspect Hambali, a report said today.

Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told the Star newspaper Malaysia wanted to interrogate Hambali because they believed the militant's activities affected the country's security.
"I am sure the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) will allow us to question Hambali if our Police Chief Norian Mai can convince them that his activities can affect our country's security," Zainal said.
Hambali formerly enjoyed permanent residency status in Malaysia before it was revoked. The alleged architect of the Bali bombings and a string of other bloody attacks in Asia, Hambali was captured last Monday in the central Thai city of Ayuthaya and taken into US custody.
His Malaysian wife, Noralwizah Lee Abdullah, is currently in Malaysian Police custody for questioning.



Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said Malaysia may hold her in detention without trial as the government believes she has "useful information".



Noralwizah Lee Abdullah was handed over to police here after being arrested with her husband in Thailand last week, according to a security official.



The Deputy Prime Minister said he did not know where she was at the moment but suggested that police might want to detain her under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows indefinite detention without trial.


Bureau Report