Cops going after more militant group members

PETALING JAYA: Police are hunting for the remaining members of the militant group which was planning to undertake suicide bombings and attack missions in Syria and Iraq.

Sources revealed that the police were aware of who the members were within and outside the country.

Separately, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said: “We have always monitored and increased our efforts against these men (militants).”

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Bukit Aman would conduct thorough background checks on enforcement personnel to ensure they were not linked to any terrorist or militant groups.

“We are not saying that all security personnel have such links,” he said after a courtesy call by US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y. Yun here yesterday.

“But, we want to weed out those who are.”

Dr Ahmad Zahid was commenting on the Royal Malaysian Navy officer, who was one of three men arrested last Friday, for allegedly being in­­volved with a militant group.

They were detained in Sandakan, Sabah, over their plans to under-take suicide bombings in Syria and Iraq.

All three were linked to the rebel Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in the Middle East and the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf in southern Philip­pines.

The Counter-Terrorism Unit has arrested 15 members of the group since April 28.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said Bukit Aman was working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to track down militants, who had been using social media sites to recruit members.

Asked on action that could be taken against Malaysian militants in Syria, upon their return to Malaysia, Dr Ahmad Zahid said “such people belong behind bars”.