Finding ways to deal with I.S.
PETALING JAYA: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s working visit to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates next week will identify ways to beef up measures in the fight against Islamic State (IS).
He will meet leaders of the three Middle-East countries, including Crown Prince Mohammed Salman Al Saud, who is also Saudi Arabia Defence Minister, to learn how they dealt with those who fled from the offensive against IS in Syria.
“There will be intelligence sharing in terms of dealing with those (IS members) who escaped the successful offensive in Aleppo, Raqa’ and Mosul,” he said.
He added there was concern that IS extremists might have fled to this region.
Hishammuddin, who will kick off the visit on Monday for four days, said military measures alone would be insufficient, hence there was a need to win hearts and minds through counter-narrative efforts.
“This is why we will have the King Salman Centre For International Peace (KSCIP) in Kuala Lumpur.
“The Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology launched by United States President Donald Trump recently will be related to KSCIP in terms of coming up with counter-narratives against extremist ideologies,” he said.
He said this after launching Kompleks Mutiara Perbadanan Perwira Niaga Malaysia (Pernama) at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here in Subang yesterday.
On foreign fighters in the Philippine city of Marawi, Hishammuddin, who is also the Special Functions Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said it had become a big concern.
“We need to ensure IS does not have a foothold in our region whether in Marawi or any other place in Asean.
“We are discussing with Philippine Defence Secretary Delphin Negrillo Lorenzana humanitarian relief for refugees from Marawi.
“We do not want their plight to translate into anger, which has the possibility of transforming into militancy,” he said.
Hishammuddin said more personnel and assets had also been placed in Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone, to prevent insurgent elements and to prevent militants from entering Malaysia.
“The measures to place this assets in Sabah and our trilateral efforts between Indonesia and Philippines have been working.
“Many did not realise this but peace and stability in this country did not come easy as these things can only be achieved with proactive measures and international cooperation,” he added.
It was reported that IS militants had assimilated themselves with the 200,000 residents in Marawi and had murdered civilians who attempted to flee and used others as slaves and hostages.
Three Malaysians among the militants were reported to have been killed in a battle.
Responding to claims that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had paid RM7 million to Defence Staff Intelligence Division (BSPP) director-general Lieutenant-General Datuk Abdul Hadi Hussin before the general elections in 2013, he said in the event there was any investigation on the matter, it should be allowed to take place.
BSPP is the joint military intelligence agency under the Armed Forces which reports directly to the Armed Forces chief.
“The whole business of the Defence Ministry is very clear, which is to look after the (national) security.
“It has never been political in any way, so if there are moves to investigate, let the agencies investigate,” he said.