15 suspected militants detained in Sandakan

KUALA LUMPUR: The police have detained 15 suspected militants in Sandakan and five in other parts of the country, including a leading member of an Indonesian extremist group who are believed to be planning to fight in the strife-torn southern Philippines.

They were the latest arrests of alleged extremists in Malaysia, as fears grow that militants who had been fighting with the Islamic State (IS) group overseas are heading back to Southeast Asia after the jihadists’ losses in the Middle East.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the seven Malaysians, seven Filipinos, five Indonesians and a northern African were arrested by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division with the assistance of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) between Nov 30 and Dec 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Johor and Selangor.

Mohamad Fuzi said a 24-year-old Indonesian man, who is the senior leader of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah terror group, was to first to be caught in Pontian on Nov 30.

"We believe the suspect was collecting funds before planning to head to Syria.

"He was also involved in a bombing incident in Bandung in July," he said in a statement yesterday.

The second arrest was of a 46-yearold former teacher at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Dec 1.

"He is suspected of belonging to a terror cell which planned an attack on the Better Beer Festival. Three of the terror cell members were arrested earlier in October.

"The teacher, who is from Kuching, was also planning to head to southern Philippines to join a terror cell," he said.

The third series of arrests were of four Indonesians by Esscom on Dec 4 in Sandakan.

"They entered Sabah illegally from Tarakan and Nunukan, Indonesia en route to southern Philippines," he said.

The next arrest on Dec 6 in Kuala Lumpur involved a 50-year-old Filipino man, who was recruiting his fellow countrymen in the Kepong area for the Abu Sayyaf Group.

Six Malaysians and five Filipinos were arrested on Dec 10 in Sandakan for involvement with a terror group in southern Philippines.

"Another Filipino man was also arrested on Dec 10 in Masai, Johor for involvement in terror attacks in the Philippines," said Mohamed Fuzi.

He added the last arrest was on a north African man, 31, at KLIA on Dec 15.

"He was involved with Islamic State and had previously been arrested by Turkish authorities. He entered Malaysia earlier this month," said Mohamed Fuzi, adding that intelligence sharing with foreign enforcement agencies led to his arrest.

The arrests come after hundreds of local and foreign gunmen who had pledged allegiance to IS laid siege to the principal Islamic city in the mainly Catholic Philippines for five months.

The brutal battle for Marawi claimed over 1,000 lives.

Malaysia has rounded up hundreds of suspected Islamic militants in recent years but has not suffered a major attack.