Malaysia deports 29 Chinese nationals over IS links

BEIJING: Malaysia has deported 29 Chinese nationals for their suspected involvement in terrorist activities and ties to the Islamic State (IS) group.

Announcing this yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the suspects were arrested by the police’s anti-terror unit and were in Chinese custody.

“They were caught before they could leave our borders.”

He, however, did not disclose when the arrests were made.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said police identified the terror suspects based on biometric data provided by their Chinese counterparts.

“They are suspected IS militants who came to Malaysia via neighbouring countries, using fake passports.”

On a separate matter, Zahid said Malaysia had deported 416 Chinese nationals for their involvement in the so-called Macau Scam.

“The deportations were conducted from 2014 to June this year,” he said here yesterday.

The scammers, he said, were serving time in Chinese prisons.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, who was present, said the Macau scam victims lost RM500 million in total.

Zahid said China’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Secretary Meng Jianzhu and Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun praised the Malaysian police for its efforts in shutting down the scam.

The Chinese government, he said, had also offered additional equipment to strengthen Malaysia’s Counter-Messaging Centre (CMC) to track down those involved in terror activities.

“CMC will also be used to track down individuals who fund terrorism, including those who plan terror attacks in Malaysia, southern Thailand or southern Philippines,” said Zahid.