KUALA LUMPUR: Just as the hostage crisis in Australia ended, Bukit Aman arrested a 30-year-old former National Service trainer linked to the Islamic State terror group.
Sources revealed that the man, who hailed from Terengganu, was tasked by a local militant group to open a new safe passage for Malaysian fighters to head to Syria.
“The authorities believe that this suspect wanted to use one of the countries in South-East Asia as a transit point for Malaysian militants before going to Syria.
“This move is seen as a new way to evade detection given a spate of arrests of militants this year,” a source said.
After careful surveillance, Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division personnel were waiting at KL International Airport for the suspect and detained him at about 5.30am yesterday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspect had planned to board a plane to Turkey.
“The suspect then intended to book a passage to Syria from Turkey. We believe he was on his way to join the IS terror group,” he told a press conference after launching the Federal Reserve Unit anniversary celebrations here.
Commending Counter Terrorism personnel for their success, the IGP said Bukit Aman would always remain vigilant against any possible threat to the country.
On the seven Indonesian militants arrested recently, Khalid said they had established a network with their Malaysian counterparts.
“It is common knowledge that militants from Indonesia have close ties with those in Malaysia and southern Philippines.
“As such, this is all the more reason we need the necessary tools, especially the proposed new anti-terror law, to combat them,” he said.
The IGP said the police were still hunting for five militants believed to be linked to IS and the Abu Sayyaf terror group based in the Philippines.
Among them are former lecturer Dr Mahmud Ahmad (also known as Abu Handzalah) and sundry shop owner Mohd Najib Husen, both 36.
They are believed to be leaders of a militant group that is training and sending members to fight in Syria and Iraq.
Also wanted is former Selayang Municipal Council employee Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 39, also known as Abu Nur.
The two other wanted men are Darul Islam Sabah members Mohd Amin Baco, 31, and Jeknal Adil, 30.
Bukit Aman is also believed to be on the trail of other civil servants said to be conspiring with local militants in support of IS, and sources said their involvement was “very serious”.
Since February last year, the Counter Terrorism division has arrested 49 suspected militants.
Twenty-two of them have been charged in court, including three Tandzim al-Qaeda members led by Yazid Sufaat, who was the first to be arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 after the Internal Security Act was abolished.
Related Stories:
Civil servants getting into IS operations
Bukit Aman to beef up security at entry points
Militants’ attack on Pakistan school a lesson, says Ka Chuan
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