IGP dares militants to come back

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has dared Malaysian Islamic State (IS) members to return home.

“Come back if you dare,” the Inspector-General of Police said in reference to a video recorded by a Malaysian militant who threatened the police.

“These militants threaten everyone from afar via video recordings. If you are brave enough, then come back,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

The police, he said, were taking these threats seriously but were not intimidated by them.

“Don’t try to provoke or challenge us. The video is not the first one nor will it be the last. The police are always on alert no matter the circumstances,” he said.

It was reported that the IS had released a chilling new video on Tuesday through its division in the Philippines, in an attempt to recruit Muslims in South-East Asia, especially Malaysia.

The 21-minute clip shows fighters from the region declaring the Philippines a caliphate and inviting compatriots to travel to the Philip­pines if they cannot join them in Syria.

A fighter named Abu Aun al-Malysi is featured in the video.

“Do not be afraid, comrades. All of us here are praying for you,” he said in the video, which is believed to have been filmed in Syria.

Abu Aun has been identified by Malaysian police as Mohd Rafi Udin from Negri Sembilan. He was a member of Kumpulan Mujahiddin Malaysia and left Malaysia for Syria in 2014 to fight alongside IS.

The video also featured militants from Indonesia and the Philippines.

Khalid vowed that Bukit Aman would not allow IS militants to gain any foothold in the country.

“We will always be vigilant to any threat to the country’s safety and security. Entry points are always under our watch,” he said.

On the possibility of lone wolf attacks, he said the police were prepared for any form of terror.