Contemporary threats to Malaysia

THE latest arrest of four individuals who are suspected to be members of an Islamic State (IS) wolf pack planning to attack non-Muslim places of worship and assassinate certain persons should alert all Malaysians to the seriousness of the threats posed by terrorists in our midst.

To date, over 400 individuals have been arrested under terrorism charges in our country. For this, due credit must be given to Bukit Aman’s Counterterrorism Division, one of the best in Asia, under the leadership of Datuk Ayob Khan.

However, the rising number of arrests and discovery of planned attacks are worrying.

The Counter-Terrorism Division revealed that up to 98% of Malaysian militants were recruited online. Anyone can be exposed to extremist ideologies just by sitting in front of a computer screen in the comfort of their homes.

A major consequence of the use of the Internet and social media by terror groups is the rise of lone wolf attacks, a massive challenge for counterterrorism agencies since groups such as IS prey on and radicalise vulnerable individuals who are attracted to their messaging.

The government and law enforcement agencies must therefore engage experts to monitor and control extremist websites and also develop counter-content messaging techniques to prevent vulnerable individuals from being psychologically entangled in deviant ideologies.

The current threat level to national security as a result of terrorism demands preventive detention legislation such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 and Prevention of Crime Act 1959. These laws are important as they allow law enforcement authorities to act before a terror attack is carried out.

On many occasions, while the police may have due reason to suspect certain individuals of being involved in plotting terror attacks, there may not be enough physical evidence to detain them. In these situations, preventive laws are vital in enabling the police to make arrests and buy time to produce the evidence to charge them.

Human rights organisations that are pushing for the abolition of these Acts, which they see as a violation of human rights, do not understand their importance in safeguarding the country. Abolishing these acts would be a grave mistake.

Intelligence gathering and sharing is imperative in penetrating terror groups and cells, particularly IS. The Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka can be taken as a painful and costly lesson on the need to act immediately upon receiving information on imminent threats. Intelligence mishaps like this must be avoided at all costs and continuous international collaboration among intelligence agencies is necessary as a preventive measure.

Malaysia has been known to be a safe “transit point” and haven for individuals involved in terror-related activities and extremists due to its lax immigration laws. It has been reported that the explosive devices and firearms seized from the IS wolf pack were smuggled in from neighbouring countries. It is the duty of the Immigration and Customs departments to prevent any individual suspected of being involved in terror-related activities from entering and staying in the country and control the inflow of firearms and weapons.

Eliminating terrorism is like removing weeds from our garden. To get rid of weeds, we must dig them out with the roots. Similarly, arresting individuals alone is not enough. The government must address the root cause of the problem, and one way to do this is through education. A recent report by the Southeast Asia Regional Research Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) says that one in five Malaysian undergraduates feel that terrorism is an effective tool for achieving objectives. This is absolutely worrying. The younger generation must be taught the importance of unity and religious tolerance and to be aware of the dangers of terrorism. Religious teachings free of extremist strains such as Salafism and Wahabbism must also be propagated.

The government must also acknowledge the importance of research. Although research does not produce immediate results, it is extremely vital in understanding the landscape of terrorism in the country and the necessary preventive measures.

Malaysians must stand united to prevent extremist ideologies from seeping into our society. Unscrupulous and selfish politicians should immediately stop using racial politics for political mileage.

RUEBEN ANANTHAN SANTHANA DASS

Petaling Jaya