Malaysian girls not spared, now militant groups eyeing schoolchildren

KUALA LUMPUR: The effort to lure Malaysian girls to join militant groups is taking an aggressive turn with schoolchildren being targeted in the “recruitment” drive. 

Principal assistant director of the Counter Terrorism Division of the Special Branch at Bukit Aman, SAC Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the individual concerned was actively recruiting this group via Facebook as they were young and easily misled. 

"The trend to recruit youngsters between the ages of 15 and 30 through Facebook is worrying. 

"Besides schoolchildren, students of private and public higher learning institutions with family and educational problems, government and private sector employees as well as businessmen are being coaxed to join militant groups," he said when contacted by Bernama here on Monday. 

SAC Ayob says schoolchildren are being targeted because they are easily misled.

According to SAC Ayob, the three militant groups in Syria with Malaysian involvement were the Islamic State (IS), Jabhat Al Nusra and Ajnad Al Sham. 

He said the targeted groups were usually taken in by verses from the holy Quran.

"At times, only part of the Quran verses are used or verses are misinterpreted to make their objectives legitimate," he said. 

SAC Ayob said religious authorities should take proactive measures and ward off these militant groups' propaganda. 

In this regard, he said religious authorities should issue an official fatwa as carried out by several Arab countries including Saudi Arabia which had banned its citizens from joining militants in battlefields of other countries. 

"Controlling militant ideology is the role of the religious authorities. The police will take action if there are evidence and basis of individuals planning acts of violence," he said. 

SAC Ayob added that all parties, especially parents, teachers and employers, should be aware of this recruitment activities and inform the police should they come across anyone with extremist tendencies. 

He said the police would arrange for counselling sessions with religious experts from the Royal Malaysia Police for the individuals involved. 

So far, 22 Malaysians including three women were involved with militant groups in Syria and 23 others have been detained in the country for alleged links with these groups.  - Bernama