Ayub Khan: IS more aggressive now in spreading ideology

Filepix of an IS suspected arrested by police

KUALA LUMPUR: The Counter-Terrorism Division of the Special Branch in Bukit Aman has warned that the Islamic State is getting more aggressive in disseminating its ideology.

Principal assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the group was bent on spreading its form of militancy and terror and recruiting members in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

The group had even come up with a Malay language translation of its English digital propaganda magazine, he told Bernama.

Besides, he said, the group was also making use of videos, leaflets and educational training contrary to true Islamic teachings.

Ayob Khan said the contents of the magazine were believed to be the work of controversial Turkish ulama Ibnu Taimiyyah who, among other things, labelled followers of Sunnah Wal Jamaah as misguided Muslims.

He said after questioning IS suspects who were detained and from seized books, many of them justified their acts of terror by adhering to the extreme views of Ibnu Taimiyyah.

Ayob Khan said that in addressing this matter, the counter-terrorism division constantly monitored the distribution of Daesh publications and checked their entry into Malaysia.

"The police, with the collaboration of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, will restrict websites that can pose a threat and disseminate this militant ideology," he said.

He said the MCMC had acted swiftly to stop the circulation of a Daesh digital newspaper that was also produced in the Malay language – Bernama