Seven soldiers arrested since last year over IS involvement

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven members of the Malaysian Army have been arrested since last year for suspected involvement in Islamic State (IS) militant activities.

Army chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said from that number, two were now serving their prison sentence, two others were under police supervision while the other three were awaiting their court trial.

"Only a very small percentage of our soldiers are involved in militant activities. This does not mar our capability. Only a very small number lean towards that.

"But we must prevent such involvement, failing which, punitive action has to be taken," he said at a special news conference held, here, Friday in conjunction with the upcoming 83rd Army Day celebration.

Raja Mohamed Affandi said the Armed Forces Religious Corps (Kagat) and Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had been entrusted to carry out a programme to prevent military members from being involved in such unlawful activities. – Bernama