The Home Ministry is preparing a white paper on the threat of terrorism in the country

Putrajaya to publish report on terror threat in Malaysia

The Malay Mail Online – 59 minutes ago

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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 ― The Home Ministry is preparing a white paper on the threat of terrorism in the country in a bid to pinpoint the nebulous menace.

In a written parliamentary reply yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the soon-to-be-published document will detail the involvement of Malaysians in terrorism.

Since December 2001, 167 Malaysians have been involved in militancy overseas, including 39 who are fighting for the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria, Ahmad Zahid disclosed in response to a question by Kampar DAP MP Dr Ko Chung Sen.

Ko had asked the minister for the breakdown of Malaysians involved in the jihadist militant movement and measures taken to curb the threat.

Ahmad Zahid said that the police are investigating the threat and will not hesitate to nab the culprits under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

The minister also said those under suspicion of involvement in terrorism can be blacklisted and added to the Immigration Department's security list.

Previously, Bukit Aman’s counter-terrorism division senior official Datuk Ayub Khan told Malay Mail Online that profiles of young Muslims aspiring to join the IS are becoming more obscure with the increasing use of social media to spread their propaganda.

Ayub said that those radicalised by the jihadist movement are getting younger — between the ages of 20 and 30 ― and social media networks were the main breeding ground.

Some of the jihadists identified as Malaysian come from diverse backgrounds and include a former Kedah PAS leader Mohd Lotfi Ariffin, who was died in Syria following an ambush, and a UK-educated 38-year-old who held a job with a construction company, Ahmad Salman Abdul Rahim.

Malaysia has designated IS a terrorist group.