DPM: Malaysia will share success of deradicalisation programme

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will share the success of its deradicalisation programme with other countries to combat terrorism, radicalism and extremism.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia was ready to share its counterterrorism efforts with other Islamic countries, especially those facing conflict and terrorism issues.

He said this would be carried out with Rabitah al-Alam al-Islami (Muslim World League) following the success of the two-day Putrajaya International Security Dialogue 2018.

“The deradicalisation programme for those involved in extremist movements has received encouraging results and is recognised internationally.

“The programme has a rehabilitation rate of 97 per cent.

“In this regard, we not only touch on policing and military elements, but also on rehabilitating minds and hearts,” he told a press conference after the dialogue’s closing ceremony here.

He said the dialogue was a platform for 14 participating countries to share experience in countering terrorism using the wasatiyyah (moderation) approach.

Earlier, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim delivered a 12-point consensus derived from the dialogue.

COUNTERING radicalism and extremism requires holistic soft and hard approaches;

COMBATING terrorism requires countering ideology and extremist narratives with various approaches, including online education and rehabilitation according to the level of comprehension of various communities;

INTRODUCING the wasatiyyah approach according to the teachings of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (followers of Sunnah) is of utmost importance;

COMBATING terrorism requires a legislative approach while preserving human rights;

COMMON political values need to be shared and addressed among Islamic and non-Islamic countries through inter-religious programmes, continuous dialogues and debates as collective efforts to combat terrorism and promote harmony;

A HOLISTIC deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme needs greater collaboration at a multitude of levels, including relevant agencies, non-governmental organisations, civil society as well as the family unit;

AN ALTERNATIVE way of thinking that requires a new language of moderation for understanding each other as well as to promote tolerance of differences;

COMBATING the ideology of takfiri (a Muslim accusing another Muslim of apostasy) is imperative to tackle the issue of terrorism among Muslims;

FACING the advancement of information technology and its link to terrorism requires improved strategies and methods in tackling threats;

DEEPENING cooperation and collaboration between countries in counterterrorism initiatives;

EMPOWERING religious scholars, civil society and academia to challenge extremist narratives; and,

ENHANCING international collaboration to overcome terrorist financing.

Alwi said the war on terror could not be fought through force or punitive measures alone.

“We need two-pronged approaches to defeat the threats of extremism and terrorism.

“We must attempt to win the hearts and minds of each and every one who is engaged in or is prone to engage in terrorist activities, even if it means taking a longer time to battle extremism and terrorism.

“This soft approach includes using the wisdom and moderation that this dialogue seeks to highlight.”