KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the defeat of Islamic
State (IS) in Syria three months ago, Malaysia continues to serve as a base
from which potential militants are radicalised and recruited for its cause.
And instead of reaching out to potential
recruits directly, IS now uses the Internet and the “Dark Web” as a medium to
get to its target group.
However, the recruitment of Malaysians was
no longer as rife in recent months as it was when IS was active.
Nonetheless, Federal Special Branch
principal assistant director, counter terrorism division (CTD), DCP Datuk Ayob
Khan Mydin Pitchay, said the threat posed by militants remains high in
Malaysia.
The only difference is that militant
activities are no longer as structured as it was when the IS was active.
“In the past, members took orders from the
IS leadership but now, they obtain materials from the Internet and the Dark
Web,” Ayob Khan told theSun yesterday.
He said “lone wolves” and “wolf packs” have
now taken over from large militant cells to do its work in Malaysia. The “wolf
packs” usually comprise five or six self-radicalised members.
“These wolf packs are our main concern as
they are for other international security agencies,” Ayob Khan said.
“They are lone militants or small groups
that plan armed attacks. We cannot rest on our laurels. Our strength is in
intelligence-gathering and we have managed to take pre-emptive steps in
disrupting any sinister plans by these cells.”
On why an increasing number of Malaysians
are turning to militancy, Ayob Khan said among the many factors were problems
relating to social disorders, family and drugs.
“Then, there are those who feel they have
committed mortal sins and believe they can redeem themselves by becoming a
militant. Others are after martyrdom and think they should fight oppression
against Muslims. Although this might not be the case, but that is how they see
it,” he said.
“The danger is in the ideology – kill
anyone who is not in line with their beliefs, including Muslims. This is why to
go up against their ideology, we need to have strong counter-narratives,” he
added.
Ayob Khan said that remaining foreign
terrorist fighters, a term for those who leave their countries to fight
alongside IS in Syria, have fled and gone into hiding following their defeat.
Since 2013, a total of 116 Malaysians, most
of whom were men, left for Syria to join IS.
From the total, 37 men and three children
have died.
While 11 have returned to Malaysia, the
remaining 65 – comprising 25 men, 14 women and 26 children – remain in Syria or
in detention camps.
“Thirty-nine of them have contacted us and
wish to return to Malaysia. We are waiting for the government’s decision on
whether to allow that. As for the other 26, we have no information on their
whereabouts,” Ayob Khan added.
Source: The Sun Daily – 27 June 2019
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