Militants could target Malaysia too, says Hishammuddin – Bernama

Malaysia could find itself a "target nation" when it is in the crosshair of international militants.

This alert comes from Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic), who said that such a scenario was not impossible.

He said although Malaysia was recently used only as transit by seven Indonesian militants bound for Syria, it could not be ruled out that it later became their target.

"At the moment, Malaysia's status is as a transit nation but don't think such a status cannot change to target nation.

"People didn't expect Australia to have been a target nation, people don't think Canada or the United States can be target nations. So, don't think the militants' targets are only Iraq and Syria," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby in Kuala Lumpur today.

Hishammuddin said this when asked to comment on the detention of seven Indonesians, including four women, in Selangor on suspicion of being involved in militant activities, and having used Malaysia as a transit before heading for Syria.

According to Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, the Indonesians, aged between 25 and 35, were nabbed in a raid on December 2 by the Counter Terrorism Division of Bukit Aman's Special Branch.

It is believed that one of the suspects was a facilitator who arranged the militants' travel to Syria, and was suspected of having "links" with Umar Patek, senior member of the Abu Sayyaf Group and elements of Al-Qaeda in South Asia.

Hishammuddin also reminded the public, especially the young, to be always sensitive to the threat of militant groups.

Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar praised the Royal Malaysian Police on their success in nabbing the militants upon their arrival in Malaysia.

He said the success was also due to the cooperation of Malaysian police and the Indonesian security in tackling militant activities. – Bernama, December 16, 2014.

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