An Australian senator who visited Kuala Lumpur last weekend to witness an anti-corruption demonstration and to meet with the leader of the opposition found himself attacked in a state-controlled newspaper article.

Nick Xenophon, an independent senator for South Australia, says the article is a 'vile defamation' and he is seeking legal action. 'I'm gobsmacked that someone could stoop so low,' he added.

The article in yesterday's New Straits Times (NST) uses quotes from a speech Xenophon gave in 2009 criticising Scientology and replaces the name of the controversial American-based religion with 'Islam'.

'Islam is not a religious organisation. It is a criminal organisation that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs,' the article in NST quotes Xenophon as saying.

Hansard, the record of Australian parliament, confirms the words of the senator's speech, apart from he said 'Scientology', not 'Islam'.

The article by Roy See Wei Zhi also stated that Xenophon 'came out in support of "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issue' and quoted Malaysian independent MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim questioning: 'By confiding in Xenophon, is Anwar also supporting the LGBT movement?' This suggests the purpose of the article is to discredit the leader of the opposition, Anwar Ibrahim.

Zahrain caused controversy in Malaysia last month by attempting to table an emergency motion baring LGBT people from entering national politics.

NST have removed the article from their website, but it was copied and pasted onto Australian news blog Blogotariat.