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More Malaysia-trained extremists now involved in conflicts abroad
The Special Task Force (Operations and Counter Terrorism) set up by the police has warned of a growing trend by home-grown extremists to take their causes to faraway conflict zones such as Syria
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he Special Task Force (Operations and Counter Terrorism) set up by the police has warned of a growing trend by home-grown extremists to take their causes to faraway conflict zones such as Syria.
These Malaysian extremists were unlike their 'predecessors' who preferred to carry out attacks in neighbouring countries, said task force director Comm Datuk Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
At least 15 terror operatives had been identified so far, he said, adding that their 'recruitment' was done in Malaysia.
'We discovered the country was used as transit to a third country, fund-raising as well as recruitment of new suicide bombers,' he said.
In an interview, Comm Mohamad Fuzi said 10 Malaysians had been arrested for terrorism offences outside Malaysia between 2008 and 2012 ' four in Thailand, two in Beirut and one in Indonesia.
Three Malaysian terrorists have also been killed in foreign conflict zones. They were Dr Azahari Hussin and Noordin Mat Top in Indonesia in 2005 and 2009, respectively, and the latest, Mohd Noor Fikrie, in the Philippines last year.
'Two more Malaysians are still at large in a neighbouring country.'
Comm Mohamad Fuzi said police had arrested 230 key militant figures from various terrorist groups since December 2001.
He explained that those roped into terrorist groups were often led to believe that they were fighting a 'just' war.
'The Malaysian extremists believed it was their duty to help their Muslim brothers in conflict zones,' he said.
Since Sept 11, 2001, he said, at least 10 international terrorist groups were known to have carried out their operations in Malaysia.Among them were al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiah (JI), Darul Islam, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Hezbollah, Abu Sayyaf Groups, Tandzim al-Qaeda and other splinter groups.
He also revealed that Malaysia would have been attacked by al-Qaeda and JI, too, if not for the arrest of key figures on home soil, including the bodyguard of Osama bin Laden.
Comm Mohamad Fuzi paid tribute to the hardwork put in by the personnel of the task force who were mostly from the Special Branch.
'I am very proud with the performance of my men in arresting 104 key militant elements since the establishment of the task force on March 1, 2009.'
'This shows a good track record within four years compared to the 126 arrests made within eight years from 2001 when the war on terror was launched,' he added.
