Jakarta – Indonesia lacks the legal framework and the necessary counter-terrorism laws to deal with the problem, said national police chief Da'i Bachtiar.

The only regulations now available to deal with terrorism are the Criminal Code and Law No 12/1951 on firearms, he told the House Commission I.

This is in stark contrast to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, which already have sufficient legal grounds to deal with terrorism, the general said.

"In Malaysia, they have an Internal Security Act ... and Singapore also has similar laws on such matters," he said. Gen Da'i's statement came amid resistance to the planned Bill on counter-terrorism.

Non-governmental organisations and human rights activists say they fear the government's plan to enact such laws may give it powers to terrorise the people under the excuse of the law or lead to state terrorism.

Indonesia is currently under pressure from Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore to join the US-led war against terrorism.