Four militants arrested in anti-terror swoops in Selangor, Kedah

KUALA LUMPUR: Four foreign militants were detained following anti-terror swoops in Selangor and Kedah, says Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador.

The Inspector-General of Police said the suspects - two Myanmar nationals, a Filipino and an Indian national - were picked up by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division (E8) between June 14 and July 3.

Abdul Hamid said the first arrest occurred on June 14 in Klang, where a 54-year-old Filipino man was detained.

"The electrician was detained as he has relations with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) terror group.

"He is also involved in assisting the kidnapping for ransom activities in Sabah waters. He was also listed as wanted by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom)," Abdul Hamid said in a statement Tuesday (July 9).

He added that the suspect also used forged identification documents.

The IGP said a 24-year-old Indian man was the next to be picked up by the E8.

"The suspect, who works as a elevator maintenance worker, was detained in Ampang on June 21.

"We identified him as being a facilitator to senior Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror group members, who entered Malaysia in November last year as well as last month.

"He has also transferred RM7,600 to the terror group to fund its activities in South-East Asia," Abdul Abdul Hamid said.

The third arrest involved a 41-year-old Rohingya man in Sungai Petani, Kedah on June 24.

"He is a supporter of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

"He was detained for uploading a video containing a death threat to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister via his social media account," the IGP added.

The suspect also has a criminal record, including entering Malaysia illegally in 1997, using fake travel documents in 2012 and being involved in a human trafficking ring, said Abdul Hamid.

The last arrest was on another Rohingya man in Alor Setar on July 3.

"The 25-year-old suspect, who worked as a teacher in a madrasah in Bukit Pinang, was detained for also giving support to ARSA," he said.

All four were detained under the Security Offences Special Measures (Sosma) 2012.