ZAHID: CMC HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR A MONTH

Centre will work with relevant agencies to combat terrorism, says DPM

THE Counter-Messaging Centre (CMC), aimed at combating terrorism, extremism and radicalism, has been fully operational for a month.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the CMC would not be working in a silo, but would coordinate with relevant agencies.

“CMC has been operational since a month ago and we will coordinate with the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism, an agency under the Foreign Ministry. We will also work with the King Salman Centre for International Peace.

“The coordination is important to ensure all information (regarding extremism and terrorism) can be channelled to Aseanpol and Interpol.

“This is also to ensure that when CMC obtains information on the suspect list, it can create an international alert,” he said after attending a People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) kenduri yesterday.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said he was satisfied with the operation of the centre.

He said CMC had sufficient expertise in countering terrorism.

“All information received will be monitored to ensure there are no elements of terrorism, extremism and militancy. The previous arrests of the suspects were the result of CMC before it became operational,” he said.

On Nov 8, 2016, Zahid said Malaysia had moved forward to counter the narratives of terrorists and extremists, especially in cyberspace, by establishing the CMC.

He said the centre, which had been manned by Malaysian police since September 2016, utilised studies to illustrate that the Islamic State’s struggle was not in accordance with the principles of Islam.