KUALA TERENGGANU, March 5: Malaysia's opposition leader on Friday accused the United States of protecting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over a nuclear black market scandal to prevent religious hardliners from taking power in upcoming elections.

Abdul Hadi Awang, president of the Islamic Party (PAS) which rules two of Malaysia's 13 states, said a police report clearing a company owned by Mr Abdullah's son of manufacturing centrifuge parts for Libya was a whitewash.

"I see a cover-up and there is sympathy from the US. The US foreign policy is to protect its interest and they will never allow the establishment of an Islamic government anywhere," he told reporters.

"We see how the US wants to hand over power in Iraq but on condition that it is not to the Muslims. It's the same in Malaysia. The US is practising double-standards in its global war against terror and in the issue of nuclear proliferation."

Scomi Precision Engineering (SCOPE), owned by Abdullah's son Kamaluddin, has admitted making parts seized on a ship bound for Libya, where they were allegedly to be used for enriching uranium for its nuclear weapons programme. But the company said it had been misled about the purpose and destination of the parts, and has been cleared of any wrongdoing by a Malaysian police investigation.

But Abdul Hadi charged President Bush was "not serious" in dealing with the issue because Mr Kamaluddin and Malaysia-based Sri Lankan businessman B.S.A. Tahir, identified by the US as a middleman, have not been detained.

"I see this as a political gimmick by Bush. He has to protect governments that sympathize with the US and until now the (ruling) National Front is showing a positive stance in implementing US policies," he said.

The PAS, which wants to turn Malaysia into a theocratic state, presents the main challenge to Mr Abdullah's secular and multi-racial coalition, which is a major ally of the US in its "war against terrorism".

Abdul Hadi said PAS strongly opposed US or foreign intervention in Malaysian affairs, and indicated it would use this as one of the main campaign issues ahead of March 21 elections.

Despite Mr Abdullah's pledges, Abdul Hadi said the SCOPE case was a black mark and recent moves to haul a minister and a tycoon to court for corruption were merely election gimmicks. -AFP