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Yes, they are terrorists’: Malaysia top cop
On the eve of his retirement as Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar is still keeping tabs on Indonesia's security, especially terror threats.
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Malaysia Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (The Star/File)
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onfirming the arrests of eight suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday, Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, who retired on Monday, said Bukit Aman was working closely with its Philippines’ counterpart to ensure that Malaysia was not being used as a hideout for militants.
“We are always on alert for any terror threat from various elements, be it foreign or domestic.
“The Royal Malaysia Police, especially the Counter Terrorism Division, is always proactive in collecting actionable intelligence and taking necessary measures to curb the threat of terrorism,” he told The Star on Sunday.
“The safety and security of the people is our top priority,” he said.
The country's top cop was commenting on The Star’s exclusive report on the arrest of Malaysian and Filipino militants in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Khalid is due for compulsory retirement today.Sources said the militants, including ASG leaders Hajar Abdul Mubin, were arrested in an operation in Cheras on the eve of National Day on Aug. 30.
Hajar, also known as Abu Asrie, was arrested with another Filipino, Abraham Embung, 29, and six Malaysians of Filipino descent from Sabah.
The 25-year-old Abu Asrie is believed to be a member of the Jolo-based Lucky 9 kidnap-for-ransom group with links to the Abu Sayyaf group based in the jungles of Jolo and Basilan islands in southern Philippines.
The Malaysians, who are believed to be from Sandakan and working in Kuala Lumpur, were aged between 20 and 52.
Some of the suspects were security guards and members of the Civil Defence Corp or Rela, the sources said.
According to Philippines intelligence sources, the Lucky 9 gang was involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities in Jolo town.
Some members of the group have links with the Abu Sayyaf gunmen currently on the run in Jolo following a full scale war by Philippines security forces against the group that was responsible for numerous cross border kidnappings in east coast Sabah.
According to some sources, Abu Asrie, who was based in Basilan, had slipped into Malaysia in 2015 after meeting with Malaysian Islamic State militants Dr Mahmud Ahmad, Mohd Najib Hussein and Muhammad Joraimee in Basilan.
This article appeared on The Star newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
