Sik – Umno Youth said it has been accused of helping the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) when its members were in Sumatra to help victims of last year's tsunami.

Its international relations and non-governmental organisations bureau chairman Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said he was surprised when asked by reporters in Aceh as to why the movement was providing assistance in Ujung Batee and Sunabok, which they claimed were GAM areas.

"It is regrettable that in our efforts to assist those in need, there are those who want to dispute the location where the assistance was rendered," he said yesterday after opening the Sik Umno Youth delegates meeting here.

Mukhriz, who led the aid mission to Aceh, said it was solely to help the tsunami victims there and not to interfere in Indonesian politics.

He said Umno Youth obtained the cooperation of two organisations, Dewan Dakwah Islamiah Indonesia and Parti Keadilan Sejahtera, both recognised by the Indonesian Government.

Malaysian non-governmental organisations, he added, had always adhered to instructions from the Indonesian authorities in carrying out aid missions.