IGP: Special Branch going after foreign terrorists trying to enter Malaysia
PARIT: The counterterrorism division of the federal police’s Special Branch is zeroing in on terrorists attempting to infiltrate the country to carry out attacks and are on the lookout for new bases, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
“The 45 foreign terrorists detained included three commanders of the terror group, Islamic State (IS), in southern Iraq. The division has taken measures to identify and track down those categorised as foreign terrorist fighters in operations carried out between January and Oct 6.
“This is based on intelligence from our counterparts in other countries that IS terrorists of various nationalities had been instructed to infiltrate countries after losing control of its territories in Iraq and Syria. They are looking for a new base and Malaysia is one of the potential sites.
“Our intelligence confirmed that IS is working with terror groups at the global level or in Southeast Asia, including Abu Sayyaf and Jamaatul Mujahideen, for attacks in Malaysia,” he said at a National Sports Day event in Bota, Perak, yesterday.
He said the terrorists entered the country with the help of local contacts and had used fake travel documents.
“Some of them came in on the pretext of studying here. We are working with local universities and authorities to curb this. There is a syndicate involved (enabling terrorists to gain entry here),” Fuzi said.
He said nine were Abu Sayyaf members, three were Fetullah Turki (listed as a terror group by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) members, three were members of an Albanian terror group with links to IS and four were members of Bangladesh’s Jamaatul Mujahideen. The remaining 31 were foreign terrorist fighters of various nationalities, and three of them belonged to IS.
Fuzi said he would release an update on the terrorists, including a student, in a few days.
On a separate matter, he reminded overweight policemen to keep fit or risk not getting a promotion, come Jan 1.
“Everyone, including senior officers, are reminded to exercise and abide by the ruling (under the Trim N Fit programme).
“This is a 24-hour job. If we are not healthy and fit, how are we supposed to protect and safeguard peace in the country? This applies to some 120,000 staff and personnel, including me,” said Fuzi, who took part in a 5km cycling event.