T'ganu man accused of planning temple attack to be tried in KL

Malaysiakini

The Kuala Terengganu Sessions Court has consented to an application by prosecutors to transfer the trial of a man, facing eight terrorism charges, to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The ruling was made by Sessions Court judge Nooriah Osman.

Mahadi Mamat, 33, was charged under various subsections of Section 130 of the Penal Code which relates to terrorism.

He was accused of procuring a Czech-made CZ 75 pistol, 15 bullets and six pipe bombs with the intention of committing terrorist activities.

He was also accused of planning to assassinate four high-profile Malaysian citizens in an instant messaging group titled "Sejati Sejiwa".

According to the facts of the case, Mahadi was arrested on suspicion of planning an attack on the Sri Mahamariamman Seafield temple in Subang Jaya.

The temple was the centre of a land dispute which later resulted in several nights of rioting. One fire and rescue personnel Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim died after suffering injuries at the scene.

According to Bukit Aman's anti-terrorism division director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, Mahadi was accused of leading a terrorist cell which has been dismantled.

The accused was detained and questioned for 28 days under Section 4(1) Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

Mahadi will remain in custody at the Sungai Buloh prison until his case is up for mention at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

"The police are always on the look-out for wayward individuals who can threaten public order.

"We urge the public to report extremist elements to the police to help us maintain peace and harmony," Ayob Khan told Malaysiakini.

Lawyer outraged at pix of gun-toting kids in army fatigues

Siti Kasim shares the photograph taken at a kindergarten in Kota Damansara and asks if pre-schoolers are being brainwashed to become militants in the name of jihad.

PETALING JAYA: Are kindergarten-going children being brainwashed to become militants in the name of jihad?

That’s the question lawyer and activist Siti Kasim asked in her latest Facebook posting where she shared a photograph showing kids, purportedly from a kindergarten in Kota Damansara, standing with their teacher while holding toy guns and dressed in military fatigues.

The photo was apparently posted by the teacher in her Instagram account.

Outraged at the implication, Siti asked: “Tell me what you think of these photos. I am extremely disturbed by these.

“The teacher and the kids are holding weapons! Maybe plastic but a kindergarten? In a pre-school? (expletives) is she teaching?”

According to Siti, the teacher is from the Darul Quran Islamiyah College University (KUDQI) based in Terengganu, which she claimed was a branch of Jemaah Islamiyah.

“What kind of Islam do you think they are teaching the kids, you think? I hope the authorities will look into this,” she said.

Netizens also expressed horror at the post, and called on the authorities to check on the kind of curriculum the kindergarten used for its students.

At the time of writing, the post had been shared close to 300 times and “liked” by more than 360 people.

The outspoken lawyer is currently under probe for criminal intimidation and for allegedly obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duties, when she stood up for members of the transgender community during a raid by religious authorities recently.

Police detect two individuals involved in IS through umrah

Police believe that the umrah agency had no connection with the individuals involved in the IS.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have detected two individuals who joined the Islamic State (IS) militant group through their umrah (minor haj) trip before meeting up with the militants in Syria.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said they had used the services of an umrah agency for the trip to ease their plan and to avoid detection by the authorities of their real intention.

“So far, we have detected two such cases where on the pretext of going for umrah, they actually wanted to join the IS militants.

“They went (to the Holy Land) not for a religious purpose….imagine, the umrah being misused,” said Khalid, who declined to reveal the identity of the two individuals.

He was met by reporters after handing out letters of appreciation to selected courteous road users and the best police contingents in the “Op Selamat” 6/2015 held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration.

Khalid said police believed that the umrah agency had no connection with the individuals involved in the IS.

He said the problem, however, needed to be tackled holistically, including through legal means.

The IGP said police had so far identified 50 Malaysians who had gone to Syria to join the IS, while another 70 had been arrested including those trying to leave the country to go to Syria and also those who had returned from there.

Recently, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin revealed about individuals planning to join the IS movement through the umrah package, and information on this was obtained through sharing of information with certain countries, including members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

On another development, Khalid said police would call Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, P. Ramasamy over his statement deemed as racist which appeared on social websites.

“I have been informed that it is an old tweet, but we will still investigate whether it is an old or new tweet. We will call him and investigate the matter.”

Khalid said to avoid trouble or tension, elected leaders and community leaders should be careful before making statements, especially on social websites, as these could incite their followers.

- BERNAMA

'Umrah' latest modus operandi to join IS

An excuse to perform the umrah is one of the latest modus operandi used by individuals who are out to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group, said Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin.

He said the information was obtained through cooperation and information-sharing with foreign countries including the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries.

"We already know some of the tactics used by those who want to join IS militants, some were traced going for umrah but after they arrive in Madinah they disappear," he told reporters in KL yesterday.

For this reason, he said, the ministry would continue to cooperate with foreign countries to learn in depth the ploys used by the group and subsequently prevent the spread of IS militant activities.

Currently there are 61 Malaysians detected in Syria, including 10 women, while the arrests on those suspected to be involved with IS in the country have reached 71 people.

In addition, Hamzah said the ministry was willing to help individuals involved with IS militant activities to correct their mistakes and mend their ways.

"When they return home to this country, we will try to help fix their ideological beliefs, if they have made a mistake or was mistaken we will help to correct them," he said.

Hence, he said the ministry urged the people of this country who were in Syria to go to the nearest embassy to seek for assistance.

Earlier, Hamzah attended a premier lecture ‘Islam Rahmatan Lil'Alamain: Between Fact and Reality’ by rector of Pattani Jaya University, Thailand, Ismail Lutfi.

- Bernama

Bukit Aman identifies M’sians in IS beheading video

Bukit Aman has identified the terrorists in recent IS beheading video as Malaysians.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Aman counter-terrorism unit has identified the two Malaysians spotted in an Islamic State beheading video.

According to a report by the Star Online, Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division principal assistant director Ayub Khan identified them as 20-year-old Mohd Faris Anuar from Kedah and 26-year-old Muhamad Wandy Muhamad Jedi from Melaka.

In the 30-second video, uploaded onto Facebook on February 20, Faris is seen signalling to the camera with his index finger while Wandy is allegedly the person recording the video.

Both are believed to be part of the new IS wing Majmu’ah al Arkhabiliy that recruits Malaysian and Indonesian militants.

The wing replaced the older unit called Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiah in Syria and Iraq.

According to the Malay Mail Online, there are 39 Malaysians already in Syria, with 17 of them involved with IS, and 22 having joined rival militants Ajnad al-Sham.

Mukhriz gets info on would-be IS militants

Some residents have asked the advice of religious teachers on going to Syria for jihad, says the menteri besar.

FMT

ALOR SETAR: Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir says he had received information from teachers at a traditional religious school about local residents wanting to go to Syria for jihad.

“These local residents, who did not identify themselves, asked the teachers what was the rule for going to jihad in Syria.

“The teacher brought out the Quran and showed them verses which do not allow them (to go to Syria). It shows how a small number are really keen to go to Syria,” Mukhriz said at a press conference in Wisma Darulaman today.

He said although these people had cancelled their plans to go to Syria after receiving the explanation from the religious teacher, at the same time, he did not discount the possibility that there were many who had gone there without first getting any advice.

“Luckily, they asked about the rules before going to Syria, what if they had gone straight to Syria without asking for advice,” he added.

He said he is worried after receiving the information about this small group wanting to fight in Syria.

The menteri besar also said there was a student in a private institute of higher learning who tried to influence her father to allow her to marry a Syrian through the social media Twitter.

He said the state government depended on the police to curtail the spread of militant and extremist thinking among the people of the state.

– BERNAMA

Malaysian IS recruits warn families against opposing IS

Family members of IS recruits will be killed if they support the government in opposing IS

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of families from Malaysia joining the militant group, ‘Islamic State’ (IS), is increasing and at least eight families are already in Syria currently.

Principal Assistant Director of the Counter-Terrorism Division, Special Branch in Bukit Aman, SAC Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay said five children aged between one and 12 years were also brought by their parents to Syria.

“What is of greater concern is when the influence of the IS is becoming viral to the extent that it is capable of influencing families to migrate and so far, eight families are already in Syria.

“The ideological influence as well as the training provided to the IS members are seen as too powerful to the extent that there are members who are Malaysians who have issued warnings that they would kill their family if they joined the Malaysian government in trying to oppose the IS.

“Such warnings are not only issued to the authorities but their family members too. One of them who is now in Syria has issued a warning to the family via the facebook that he would kill his mother, father and siblings who join the government in opposing the IS,” he told reporters, here Wednesday.

-BERNAMA

Civil servant’s IS involvement a grave matter: Zambry

The civil servant from Perak was said to be involved in contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the IS in Syria.

FMT

IPOH: The Perak government views seriously the suspected involvement of its civil servant in the so-called IS militant group, says Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He however, said that he had yet to receive the full report about the arrest of the civil servant and request it from Perak police chief Datuk Osman Salleh.

“I view seriously the involvement of the state government’s civil servant in the IS. Appropriate legal action should be taken against the suspect,” Zambry told a press conference after chairing the state executive council meeting in Ipoh, Wednesday.

He was commenting on the arrest of three individuals, including a woman, for suspected involvement in the IS group’s activities in Johor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur recently.

The civil servant from Perak was said to be involved in contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the IS in Syria.

-BERNAMA

Civil servant among three caught for IS links

Civil servant believed to be senior member of terrorist group (IS)

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: A civil servant was among three people who were detained by the Special Branch’s counter-terrorism unit in Johor and Perak on suspicion of having links with the so-called IS terrorist group.

They were picked up in operations between 28th Feb and 2nd March.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, said a police team picked up the civil servant on suspicion of helping to register a Facebook account for use by some Malaysians relating to IS group’s activities.

“We believe the suspect, who is from Perak, is also a senior member of the terrorist group in Syria.

“Our investigations revealed the 39-year-old suspect was also planning to join the IS (in Syria) in the near future,” Khalid said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday.

He said in the second case, the police detained a 22-year-old male trader from Perak on suspicion of contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the IS in Syria.

The other suspect, a 29-year-old housewife from Johor, was caught for allegedly planning to join the militant group.

“We believe the woman had instigated a 14-year-old female student who was detained at the KL International Airport on Feb 17 for allegedly trying to join the IS in Syria,” said Khalid.

- BERNAMA

Madrasah founder denies US documentary claim

The religious school does not teach the students to become terrorists, say co-founder.

FMT

ALOR SETAR: Co-founder of the Madrasah Nurul Hidayah in Kuala Ketil Mohd Zainon Ariffin has denied allegations that the school propagates militant ideologies among its students.

Mohd Zainon, 53, said the claim made in the video documentary on the school produced by The New York Times and several other media recently was untrue.

“My madrasah does not teach the students to become terrorists.

“Islam has never taught its followers to become violent or to be terrorists. In Islam, the term terrorist is not in its vocabulary. Islam bans violence,” he told Bernama when contacted by telephone here today.

The Madrasah Nurul Hidayah attracted foreign media attention because Mohd Zainon’s younger brother Mohd Lotfi Ariffin, 46, was killed while fighting in Syria. Mohd Lotfi played an important role in the formation of the madrasah.

Mohd Lotfi, former information chief of the Kedah PAS Ulama Council, was involved in the group known as Ajnad al Sham, which also fought against President Bashar al-Assad.

Mohd Zainon said his younger brother did not join the so-called IS militant group.

The founder of the madrasah said he felt cheated by journalists from the foreign media which produced the documentary and following the false report, he was facing various problems including being investigated by the police, besides the madrasah being monitored by the authorities.

A few days after the documentary was aired, Kedah police chief Zamri Yahya, in a media conference, had said that police would take action and monitor any madrasah in Kedah suspected of being involved in militant activities.

According to Mohd Zainon, the foreign journalists took two days to shoot the documentary at his madrasah and said that the air time was 48 minutes.

However, the final duration of the documentary aired was merely eight minutes, he said.

However, what was more regretful was that his speech which had called on the students of the madrasah to emulate the practices and religious studies of his late younger brother had been left out by the foreign media.

“As students who respected him (Lotfi), they must emulate his attitude and discipline. This was my speech which should have been in the video.

“The video also portrayed as though this place (Madrasah Nurul Hidayah) churned out terrorists. The madrasah does not teach anyone to be cruel and violent,” he said.

Mohd Zainon said to his knowledge, his late younger brother had never propagated militant ideologies or influenced his students to join the struggle in Syria, throughout his teaching days at the madrasah.

To date, none of the students from the madrasah had become militants and the school only offered religious studies for five years to about 180 students aged from 12 to 17 for a monthly fee of RM20, he said.

“Here, we don’t teach the students how to handle weapons,” he said.

If any outsider tried to influence students of the madrasah to join any militant movement, Zainon said he would explain to them to concentrate on their studies and to gain knowledge.

“It is better for them to be here to acquire knowledge,” he said.

However, he did not think that there were outsiders who tried to influence or recruit his students to join any militant movement.

Mohd Zainon said students of the madrasah came from all over the country, including Sabah and Sarawak, and they were from poor families.

– BERNAMA

Quran schools not involved in spreading Isis ideology, says association – Bernama

The Selangor Association of Quran Memorising Institutions (Pitas) rejects the perception that such educational institutions (tahfiz schools) in Selangor were involved in spreading the Isis militant group's ideology in the country.

Its chairman Ashri Lateh Al-Muqril said the 160 registered tahfiz schools in the state had never encouraged their students to join any militant group, including the Isis.

"The militant group not only contravenes the tahfiz education philosophy but has also deviated far from the true teachings of Islam," he told Bernama today.

He said there were about 10,000 students in 130 tahfiz schools affiliated to Pitas, while another 30 were not part of the association.

Those affiliated to Pitas followed the syllabus provided by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) and Pitas was constantly monitoring their developments, he said.

"Jihad in tahfiz studies is not about taking up arms and going to war, but seeking knowledge like memorising and understanding the Quran which is a bigger jihad," Ashri said.

He added that tahfiz schools were to produce a generation of Quran students who were knowledgeable and well-rounded individuals, and were not training grounds for militants.

On a 14-year-old female tahfiz student who was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport for allegedly trying to join the Isis group in Syria, Ashri said this was individual in nature and an isolated case.

The girl from Muar, Johor was reportedly a student of a tahfiz school in Shah Alam.

However, Ashri said, the girl's case would be discussed at the Pitas annual general meeting next month while it would also discuss and seek ways to prevent the Isis ideology from influencing and poisoning the minds of tahfiz students. – Bernama, February 22, 2015.

Family vital in preventing youth from joining Isis, say groups, experts

Families play a key role in preventing youths from being lured to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) by teaching them the meaning of jihad and detecting changes in their behaviour, Muslim groups and academics said.

After reports that police arrested a 14-year-old as she was about to join the group, experts said the onus should not be on the police alone to nab the young suspects as the family was the closest entity to them.

Ahmad El-Muhammady, a lecturer from the International Islamic University Malaysia, and one of the panellists in the ongoing White House summit on countering violent extremism, said the family institution plays a key role in preventing youngsters from being exploited as family is the closest entity to them.

"They can detect changes in their thinking and behaviour. Parents also need to monitor their children’s Internet activities,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“Second, their peers also can play a role in detecting changes in behavioural orientation. They have to report this matter to the relevant authorities, especially police for further investigation.”

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the 14-year-old girl who was arrested on Tuesday was influenced to join Isis through propaganda on social network site Facebook.

Intelligence sources told The Malaysian Insider last year that the Isis militants have mastered social media as their main channel to recruit fighters from around the world, including Malaysians, unlike the early 2000s where recruitment was done through religious schools.

Some, like former Kedah PAS Youth information chief Lotfi Ariffin who was killed in Syria, had not only posted his activities with Isis on Facebook, but had posted call-to-action messages too.

One blog that gained attention was that of an Isis member called “Shams”, who claimed to be a 26-year-old woman doctor from Malaysia, and was in Syria using her medical skills to help fighters and had married an Isis fighter.

Terror cells could be created virtually, as jihadists shared and spread ideological beliefs, raised funds, justified and created motives for violence online, said an intelligence source.

The source said some youths in Malaysia were being targeted for recruitment via skewed religious interpretations.

Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) president Amidi Abdul Manan said that parents and teachers had to ensure children understood that jihad, or holy struggle, did not mean taking up arms and using force against others.

“They must explain that jihad means to strive, and should be practised in all aspects of our lives. If we strive to become better people, and understand Islam, that is already jihad.

“So the parents and teachers must teach this, but they must also understand the teenager’s spirit and deal with it wisely. Teenagers tend to be idealistic and stubborn, and are still considered children.”

Zaid Kamaruddin, vice-president of non-governmental organization Ikram, said the government should form a specific agency for the public to refer to if they suspected anyone of being interested in joining Isis.

The agency should comprise counsellors equipped with religious knowledge who could engage with those at risk of joining Isis, he said.

“If we just arrest the people suspected of joining Isis and punish them, the Isis members in Malaysia may end up attacking our own country.

“So we should take pre-emptive measures instead. Get the professionals to rescue those at risk of joining Isis, and engage with them. Right now everything is rather ad hoc,” he said.

Meanwhile, Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (pic, right) proposed that the government provide alternative activities for those who wished to join Isis.

“In this day and age, if we prevent someone from doing something, they will just find their way around it. So we have to give them alternatives,” he said.

He suggested that Putrajaya allow more volunteers to provide relief to Muslims in need abroad, on the condition that they remain monitored by the government.

“There are many international non-governmental organisations who visit war-torn countries to provide aid. They do not go to war, but they help and provide welfare.”

He also suspected that many of those interested in joining Isis were simply motivated by the thrill of a challenge, rather than any spiritual calling.

“It’s possible that some of them are going simply because they are looking for a challenge, I think, because it would be inaccurate to link Isis to Islam, as what Isis is doing is not in line with the meaning of jihad,” Asri told The Malaysian Insider.

“Jihad in Islam means to elevate Allah and Islam, but what Isis is doing is giving a negative perception of Islam. We don’t know what Isis is trying to defend or what its agenda really is.”

Police arrested the 14-year-old as she was about to board a Cairo-bound flight at the KL International Airport on Tuesday evening.

Khalid said the girl planned marry a 22-year-old Malaysian student in Cairo and would go to Istanbul before securing passage to Syria.

Bukit Aman’s Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayob Khan said investigations revealed that the Muar-born girl’s trip was funded by a man in the city, according to a report in The Star.

He said she received RM2,000 and the plane tickets and was about to leave the country on the pretext of furthering her studies in Egypt.

He said that police were in the midst of identifying the so-called benefactor and trying to ascertain if she had other sponsors or if the man had funded other would-be militants.

A counter-terrorism expert, meanwhile, said the girl should be enrolled in a rehabilitation programme as she was underage.

“This would be the best solution to make sure that her future is not marred by the ‘mistake’ she made for trusting those who tried to lure her into joining Isis,” said the expert.

He said although she is currently detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, charging her and putting her behind bar would be too ‘brutal’ and could affect her future.

“Rehabilitation programme would be best. Make sure that she is in a good environment and monitored throughout the programme,” said the expert.

He said the girl was too naive to process and to understand the consequences of her action.

“She needs guidance. A study needs to be done on her background and see how the authorities can help guide her onto the right path,” said the expert.

Since early last year, police have arrested more than 20 people in various parts of Malaysia over alleged links to the terror group.

Thirty-nine Malaysians have been officially identified as being involved with Isis in Syria, whose aim is to set up an Islamic caliphate in the region.

A few Malaysian women reportedly went last year to Syria and Iraq to engage in "jihad al-nikah" or "conjugal jihad" for fighters there. – February 21, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/to-stop-youth-from-joining-isis-families-urged-to-play-active-role#sthash.h4sHkx4I.dpuf

Anti-terrorism bill ready for Parliament

New law to be tabled at the next sitting in March, says Wan Junaidi.

FMT

KUCHING: A new law on prevention of terrorism will be ready for tabling in Parliament next month, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the law is crucial to curb the influence of terrorists because existing provisions mostly deals with matters after the fact.

The new Prevention of Terrorism Bill was drafted after Parliament debated and approved a government White Paper on combating the threat of Islamic State, in November.

Fears have been expressed that the new law would incorporate measures for detention without trial, similar to those provided under the now-repealed Internal Security Act, which was frequently criticised for being used against political dissidents under the cover of national security.

Wan Junaidi said preventative laws were needed “so that we can take action even before acts are committed”. He said terrorist groups that misused Islam as a political tool were a threat to all Malaysians, not just Muslims.

“They are influencing the youth, our children. They use multiple approaches. They go to universities, to schools. This is a big challenge for the Government,” Junaidi was quoted as saying on Thursday after a 14-year-old girl was detained on suspicion of trying to join Islamic State fighters in the Middle East.

The girl, from Muar, was arrested under the new security offences law on Tuesday before she could board a Cairo-bound flight.

Schoolgirl who planned to join Isis wanted to further religious studies – Bernama

A schoolgirl who was detained by the police for allegedly wanting to join the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) militant group in Syria had told her family she wanted to further her studies at a religious school.

This was according to the 14-year-old's uncle and a schoolmate.

The 52-year-old uncle reeled in shocked when informed the teenager was nabbed on Tuesday at the KL International Airport on suspicion of wanting to join the militant group in Syria.

"I didn't know my niece was detained until you (reporters) told me... her relations with her family are good and there are no problems... and she is even close to her friends at school.

"She is the eldest of three children and their mother died a few years ago. Recently, she wanted to study at a religious school," he told reporters when met at his house in a village in Muar, Johor, today.

One of the suspect's friends said the girl had told him that she wanted to learn more about religion by furthering her studies at a religious school.

"We were shocked that she wanted to join the Isis...she is friendly and quite smart in her studies," said the 16-year-old schoolboy.

On February 17, a team from the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Unit in Kuala Lumpur detained the schoolgirl at the airport on suspicion she was planning to join Isis in Syria.

According to the police, the girl was influenced by extremist ideology after interacting with two people on Facebook, before deciding to leave the country for Egypt to marry her boyfriend and later join the Isis militant group in Syria.

The girl is being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

The teenage suspect was a student at a religious school in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Inspector-heneral of police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar recently reiterated his call to parents to monitor the movements of their children to thwart extreme beliefs from influencing them.

Radicalism among youth a major threat, says Hishammuddin

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Radicalism among youth is a threat not only to Malaysia but the world, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said the recent lone wolf attacks in Sydney and Paris were serious and disturbing because they were carried out by young people.

“What’s more painful is the fact these young men and women are often educated and from affluent backgrounds,” said Hishammuddin during his keynote address at the third National Aspiration and Leadership Symposium at the Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday.

He added that the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) group has shone the spotlight on the global Islamic community (ummah) again.

Hishammuddin said the Malay community is not exempt from this given how crucial Islam is to their identity.

He noted also that it is a sad but undeniable fact that many young Malaysians have gone to Iraq and Syria to fight for IS.

“We cannot bury our head in the sand to this unfortunate trend. Their actions are a stain on the honour of our faith and our community,” he said.

Hishammuddin said he suspects Malaysians joining IS wanted meaning, direction and purpose.
He added that what’s needed to defeat extremism is a comprehensive effort to ensure society’s most venerable members, especially young men, are given alternatives to radicalism.

Four held in home-made bomb case

The police find items used in making home-made bombs and drugs at the shophouse.

FMT

GEORGE TOWN: The police have arrested four men in connection with the discovery of a paper bag containing four home-made bombs at a house in Jalan Badak Mati, Sungai Bakap, near here last Saturday.

Penang CID chief Mazlan Kesah said the four men, aged between 24 and 43, were arrested at a shophouse in Jalan Seri Aman, Sungai Bakap, at 2.45pm on Tuesday.

“Based on closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage obtained from a nearby shop, the fingerprints on the package and statements by several parties, the police tracked the four men to the shophouse.

“Following their arrest, the police found items believed to be used in producing home-made bombs as well as various kinds of drugs at the shophouse.

The police do not rule out the possibility that they may also be members of a drug syndicate,” he told reporters here today.

Last Saturday, a resident found a paper bag containing four home-made bombs at a house near a store. Three of the bombs were detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit while one was taken to the Penang Police headquarters for investigation.

Mazlan said the police believed that with the arrest of the four men, who did not hold permanent jobs and had past criminal records, they could solve the case.

– BERNAMA

Cops identify bomb suspect

Image of man captured on CCTV at location where package was found.

FMT

NIBONG TEBAL: Police have identified a man believed to have placed a package containing four bombs in the compound of a house in Jalan Badak Mati, Sungai Bakap here on Saturday.

Seberang Perai Selatan police chief Supt Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said the image of a man who placed the package was captured by the closed-circuit television (CCTV) at a shop near the location.

“Efforts to track down the man are being carried out and we believe the bombs were homemade.

“Police also found several new clues including the fingerprint of the suspect involved,” he told reporters after an integrated crime prevention operation by Penang police in Seberang Perai Selatan here today.

On Saturday, a resident found a paper bag containing four homemade bombs in the compound of a house near a godown.

Three of the bombs were detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit while another was sent to Penang police contingent for investigation.

Wan Hassan said police had taken the statements of five individuals including the houseowner to assist investigations.

– BERNAMA

Kedah Sultan speaks out against jihadists

Days after NYT video of jihadist from Kedah madrassah, Sultan speaks out against militant violence.

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ALOR STAR: The Sultan of Kedah, on his official birthday today, spoke out against religious extremism which has resulted in Muslims being lured into joining jihadist movements in foreign countries.

Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who turned 87, said it was a sin for Muslims to murder fellow Muslims, totally contradicting true Islamic teachings that propagate peace.

His speech came days after the New York Times published a video about religious teacher Mohd Lotfi Ariffinat who left for Syria, to join jihadists fighting President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

The New York Times said Mohd Lotfi, 46, was one of a few dozen Malaysians who have joined militant rebel groups in Syria, including the Islamic State.

It quoted Malaysia’s counter-terrorism official Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as saying: “It’s easy and it’s more organised there. You can join any group that you want there.”

A New York Times video follows the path taken by Lotfi, as documented on his Facebook postings, from Kuala Ketil to Syria, where he sought martyrdom. The Facebook pages have since been taken down.

Malaysian security officials have also reported that some Malaysians had taken personal loans or sold off their property in order to join the militant Islamic groups.

The Sultan, in his speech at an investiture ceremony, condemned the action of Malaysian Muslims in going to war.

“These so called jihadists’ action in killing fellow Muslims is a sin, as pointed out in the Al Quran. Repent and return to the true Islamic teachings which embrace peace,” he said at Istana Anak Bukit, quoted by the New Straits Times.

He urged parents to closely monitor their children to prevent them from being influenced by “ideologies which contradict true Islamic teachings”. The Sultan’s speech was read by Kedah Regency Council chairman Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, as the Sultan is currently serving his second term as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The Sultan also spoke about inter-racial and religious harmony being compromised by those abusing the freedom of speech, and said “it is obvious that the Federal Constitution was formulated to prevent conflict among the rakyat. If the rakyat loves peace and stability like I do, use the freedom wisely,” he said.

His remarks about free speech come a week after civil liberties lawyer Eric Paulsen was arrested under the Sedition Act for criticising Jakim, the Islamic affairs department. Jakim and the police said Paulsen had “insulted Islam” by criticising the department.

In other remarks in the royal speech, which is usually drafted by the state government, the Sultan also hoped that the federal government would approve the Kedah government’s proposal for an international airport in Kulim. The airport project, initiated by menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir, has been opposed by the Penang state government, which sees it as a threat to the state’s progress.

SEE ALSO: The Jihadist in Our Family – New York Times

Curb fanatics in private schools, says Salleh

Speaker calls for tighter rules to prevent spread of extremist teachings.

FMT

KOTA BELUD: The federal government should monitor and tighten existing rules, especially on private schools in the country, which were suspected to instill fanatic ideologies, says Sabah State Assembly speaker, Salleh Said Keruak.

He said the measure was needed to curb fanatic ideologies spreading among students, and it would also prevent children from being influenced by extremist teachings that could trigger chaos and hostility.

Salleh, who is also state asseblyman for Usukan said through this monitoring, earlier decisive action could be taken by the government.

He said matters which could cause dispute should be discussed in private in the spirit of mutual respect.

“This is important in order to maintain peace, especially in Sabah, where we have been peaceful since independence,” he said in a statement here Saturday.

Salleh, who is also the former chief minister of Sabah said the education system should be able to produce a new generation of Sabahans that were disciplined, self-confident, skilled and practised moderate thinking in racial and religious relationships.

“They (students) should understand the history of the country’s formation and be able to take advantage of economic and work opportunities available anywhere, including those abroad. It has been proven, that Sabahans are capable, and can compete in all professions,” he said.

– BERNAMA

3 detained suspicion of intending to join IS

Former factory workers and housewife held since January 7.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian nationals, including a husband and wife, have been detained at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on suspicion of planning to join the so-called IS militant group in Syria.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the three suspects, aged between 25 and 30, were detained by the Counter Terrorism Division of the Special Branch, Bukit Aman from January 7 until today.

“The first suspect was a former factory operator in the Klang Valley, the second was a former factory supervisor in Selangor, while the third is a housewife,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Khalid said the three suspects had previously been deported from Australia for abusing their tourist visa.

He said they were also suspected of recruiting and managing the despatch of three other Malaysian nationals to Syria through a third country previously.

- BERNAMA