Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed that a name cannot be used to categorise an individual as a terrorist and cited himself as an example.
"My name also starts with Ahmad, but I am not a terrorist," he said.
According to Sinar Harian, the Umno president was commenting on an international report which stated that more than 98 percent of the names on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents' watchlist consist of Muslim names.
Zahid cited an article on the report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on the matter.
"What happened was a misinterpretation and just prejudice.
"This has led to names such as Muhammad or Ahmad being categorised as terrorists," he told reporters after launching the 23rd Asia Pacific Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates (FBINAA) conference in Subang.
Also present were Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain, US ambassador to Malaysia Brian D McFeeters and FBI international operations division assistant director Raymond P Duda.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, hoped the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur could look into the matter.
"The US policy is clear and transparent that there is no issue of prejudice against any race and religion.
"Therefore, we hope that the US embassy in this country can help solve this kind of issue," he added.
Meanwhile, Zahid also said the good ties between the Malaysian police and the FBI will boost cooperation between the two nations to combat security-related issues in the future.
"The good cooperation shown by Malaysian police and the FBI in organising today's event is expected to help solve the problems of crime at the international level besides overcoming the issue of extremism or terrorism," he said. - Mkini
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