Malaysia delegation warns of terror threat

Malaysia's embattled opposition has used a meeting with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to warn their country's leaders are helping foment Islamic radicalism in the region.

A delegation from Malaysia's political opposition - many facing jail sentences back home - met with Ms Bishop in Canberra on Tuesday to voice their concerns about eroding democracy in the southeast Asian nation.

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim could next week be jailed for a third time on sodomy charges his supporters say are trumped up.

The delegates raised this and other anti-democratic developments in Malaysia with Ms Bishop, but also warned of a tendency by the leading party to tacitly support religious extremism.

Opposition MP Rafizi Ramli said the ruling coalition relied heavily on right-wing religious groups for domestic support and that had helped the rise of radicalism.

"In an environment where the state subtly and indirectly endorses criticism and intimidation against the minorities it is easier for the messages of radical groups like ISIS to take hold," he told reporters in Canberra.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has publicly condemned Islamic State (also called ISIS), with an estimated 150 of his countrymen having joined extremist groups in Iraq and Syria.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott discussed the issue of foreign fighters with his Malaysian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur last month and thanked him for his strong stance against the terror group.

But independent senator Nick Xenophon - himself banned from Malaysia due to his outspoken support for the opposition - suggested things were different on the ground.

"I am very disturbed at the pandering to extremists," he said.