CROSS BORDER TERRORISM: THE LINK BETWEEN MALAYSIA MILITANT GROUP (KMM) & JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH (JI) - CONNECTION AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR REGIONAL SECURITY
.
PART 5 – THE FUTURE OF KMM AND JI IN MALAYSIA AND THE REGION
.
The deadliest terrorist networks in Southeast Asia have suffered significant setbacks in the past six years. These radical networks have been weakened by aggressive strategies, improved intelligence, enhanced military operations and an erosion of public support. Two years after the region's most dangerous man, the late Dr. Azhari Hussin and his entourage killed at Batu Malang incident, American and Asian intelligence analysts says financial and logistical support from Al Qaeda to other groups in the region has long dried up, and the most lethal are scrambling for survival.
.
In Indonesia, since 2005 authorities have arrested more than 300 members of JI. In the Philippines, an American-backed military campaign has the Abu Sayyaf Group, an Islamic extremist organization with links to Jemaah Islamiyah, clinging to footholds in the jungles of a handful of southern islands. The aggressive work of Unit 88 supported by Australia has been a major factor in destroying JI activities and influence.
.
JI had suffered greatly as a result of crackdown by governments in the region and beyond. The series of arrests to its operatives and key leaders have greatly disrupted its activities. JI considered legitimate in Indonesia and still operating and was recognized as legal organization in this biggest Muslims population country. JI threat still ‘in hand’ despite the series of arrest from time to time by POLRI. Indonesian government also in challenge to counter threat from other local radical groups such as Laskar Jundullah, Laskar Mujahidin, Komite Aksi Penanggulangan Akibat Krisis or the Crisis Management and Prevention Committee (KOMPAK), Front Pembela Islam (FPI) and many more. Indonesia still manages to control the threat of Islamic radicals especially after the murder of Dr. Azhari and death penalty on to the Bali bombers.
.
In Malaysia, at least 19 KMM and 68 JI members were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA)[52]. Networking, financial and logistical capabilities of these two groups were dismantled by the Malaysian authorities. Massive raids and effectives strategies by various departments in Malaysia were crucial in tackling down the threat. KMM was totally paralyzed and is no longer threat to the Malaysian government anymore. KMM leaders, Zainon Ismail and Nik Adli were in prison for the last four years, there have no violence activities recorded since.
.
The thorough surveillance by the Malaysian police was weakened KMM and made them not effective anymore. Moreover, KMM members also fled to neighbour countries such as Indonesia and Philippines. The hard core of KMM members such as Taufik Abdul Halim and Ibrahim Ngah are in Indonesian prisons since 2003. Zulkifli Khir, the alleged leader of KMM and the middle man between KMM Selangor cell with JI still at large. Hambali, the indirect spiritual leader and the inspirational and planner for JI and KMM regional activities is in Guantanamo Bay since 2003. Meanwhile, Abu Jibril, the most KMM influential ustaz was back to Indonesia after spending six years in Malaysian detention camp.
.
(Article by Prof. Madya Dr Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam, Strategic Research and Counter-Terrorism Experts, UniMAP)
.
.
FOLLOW US:
https://facebook.com/alhaqcentremalaysia
https://twitter.com/alhaqcentre
https://instagram.com/alhaqcentre
"United Against Extremism!"
Comments
Post a Comment