Najib To Raise IS, Ebola Threats In Discussions With US, Australia - Zahrain

From Roslan Ariffin

JAKARTA, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Various pressing global issues including the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) militant group (IS) are expected to be the main topics of discussion in the meetings between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak with United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott here tomorrow.

The three leaders are in the Indonesian capital to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indonesia's new president Joko Widodo or more popularly known as Jokowi.

Malaysia's Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the four-eyed meetings between the Prime Minister and the two leaders were expected to be held after the swearing-in ceremony of Jokowi as the republic's seventh president.

"There are also expected to be discussions on the conflict in Syria and Iraq while other topics such as trade and human trafficking are also on the agenda," he told the Malaysian media here Sunday.

Najib is among 18 foreign dignitaries and nine heads of government scheduled to attend the historic ceremony which will be held at 10am in the front of the People's Consultative Council ( Majlis Permusyawaratan Rakyat) building here. The council is Indonesia's highest constitutional body.

Najib, who is accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived here this afternoon together with officials from the Prime Minister's Department and the Foreign Ministry.

Zahrain said in the meeting with the Australian Prime Minister, Najib would also touch on the bilateral cooperation, which is also expected to be discussed during the APEC summit in Beijing, China next month as well as the Asian Summit to be hosted by Australia in Brisbane.

The Malaysian Government now views seriously efforts to curb the militant issue following the disclosure by the Malaysian Police recently about the involvement of local students believed to have been recruited by IS in Malaysia to fight in Syria.

There are three militant groups in which Malaysians in Syria are involved - the IS, Jabhat Al Nusra and Ajnad Al Sham.

Last Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police had identified the individuals who are the main movers in recruiting locals to join militant groups in Syria.

As many as 14 individuals have been arrested, including three people suspected to be the prime movers responsible for recruiting, sponsoring and arranging the departure of Malaysians to Syria to join the IS.

So far, 37 people have been detained, believed to be involved with the group.

EVD, a haemorrhagic fever disease which has killed thousands of people in several countries in Africa,has now spread to other nations. The Malaysian is monitoring the situation closely although there has been no cases of EVD detected so far in Malaysia.