‘I.S. SEEKS SABAH WAYPOINTS’
Terrorists looking at Tawau, Sandakan to enter Southeast Asia, says IGP
POLICE believe terrorist group Islamic State (IS) is looking at several districts in Sabah, especially Tawau and Sandakan, as transit points to gain a foothold in Southeast Asia.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said following their defeats in Syria and Iraq, the group was believed to be eyeing Southern Philippines and Rakhine in Myanmar next, as a base to launch their terror operatives.
“We realise that the Daesh group in Syria or Iraq is unstable at this moment due to the allies’ attacks. The number of IS members in Syria and Iraq has also decreased from 45,000 to about 35,000.”
“This is what we have gathered from information exchanges with friends and agencies all over the world,” he said after presenting the National Heroes Service Medal awards to 260 recipients at the Perak Police Contingent Senior Mass here, yesterday.
Fuzi was responding to a statement by Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu that the defeat of IS in Syria and Iraq was not the end of their terror reign, adding that cyberspace could well be their new battleground.
Mohamad had previously said the Southeast Asian region with a Muslim population of about 65 per cent was seen as a suitable location for IS to continue to pursue its misguided ambitions.
“Some members, including Malaysians and citizens of other neighbouring countries, have made Tawau and Sandakan as transit points to enter the Philippines and Myanmar. We are constantly monitoring these areas. In fact, we are also monitoring 10 other districts on the east coast of Sabah.
“On top of that, we are also monitoring IS activities in cyberspace. We have initiated the Counter-Messaging Centre and operations have been ongoing to detect the move to spread the Daesh ideology online.
“To tackle this problem more effectively, I think we need to work with our neighbouring countries and foreign counterparts,” he added.