Home Minister wants briefing from cops about NGO members on FBI terrorism watchlist

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Minister has requested a briefing from the police on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's move to list three Malaysians on its consolidated terrorism watchlist.

Asked to comment on three members of separate Islamic NGOs being listed on the Terrorist Screening Centre (TSC) watchlist, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he was only informed of the matter "a day or two ago".

“I have contacted the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain) to get a better picture of the matter.

"What we know is that the FBI has made a request (regarding the watchlist). We will need the correct facts first,” he said after launching the Shaftsbury Putrajaya passport centre here on Monday (Feb 19).

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It was previously reported that a leaked letter from the Foreign Affairs Ministry showed that it had instructed for the three men on the list to no longer be involved with Ops Ihsan, which oversees the delivery of humanitarian aid from Malaysia to the people of Palestine in Gaza.

Ops Ihsan secretariat chairman Jismi Johari had confirmed receiving the letter dated Feb 15, in which the ministry notified him of the three being listed on the TSC.

Jismi also said the three were not heavily involved in Ops Ihsan matters, but the secretariat was still getting confirmation on the extent of their involvement.

Following this, he advised all activists and NGOs to be careful when dealing with foreign individuals and organisations.