The enemy within
Seven nabbed in anti-terror swoop found to be working as security personnel
The burning question over the arrest of seven Abu Sayyaf militants in Kuala Lumpur is how they were hired as security guards by licensed companies. The Philippine nationals are said to have been posted at factories, residential areas and building sites in the Klang Valley. The revelation of these terror suspects working in our midst came as police received intelligence that a militant group had planned to attack the now-cancelled Better Beer Festival 2017.
KUALA LUMPUR: Questions have arisen over how seven suspected Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants, detained following a swoop in the city, could have been working as security guards in the Klang Valley.
They are believed to have been posted at several factories, residential areas and construction sites in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
It is still being determined whether or not they could have tried to recruit people to their cause or even targeted the places they were guarding.
Sources said the suspects, all Philippine nationals, were hired by licensed security companies and it is believed that due diligence was not practised in the hiring process.
“The revelation that the suspects were working as security guards has shocked the authorities, as there is a possibility that thorough background checks were not conducted.
“The authorities are expected to take stern action against the companies responsible for hiring the suspects,” a source told The Star yesterday.
Another source said the authorities were also investigating the militants’ motive for opting to work as security guards.
It is learnt that the seven suspected ASG militants, along with those detained in Cheras last month, belonged to the same terror cell.
“They were using Malaysia as a hideout after fleeing southern Philippines.
“Their ultimate purpose is still unclear but (the cell) has been placing the militants at various locations in the Klang Valley,” the source said.
Last month, eight ASG militants were detained in an anti-terror swoop as they were planning attacks on the National Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka as well as the SEA Games’ closing ceremony on Aug 30.
It is believed the detained militants are not from the same force that fought in Marawi in southern Philippines.
“There is a possibility that more ASG militants are still at large.
“The authorities are working hard to find and arrest these militants, should there be more of them in Malaysia,” the source added.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said seven suspects aged between 22 and 38 were detained in Kuala Lumpur by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division on Sept 14.
“This was a follow-up operation after we detained the ASG operatives who were planning attacks on the National Day celebration and SEA Games’ closing ceremony.
“All seven were working as security guards in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor,” he said in a statement.
One of the suspects, a 22-year-old man, had been in clashes with Philippine security forces and was also among those who carried out kidnappings, Mohamad Fuzi added.
“The suspects entered Malaysia through Sandakan before heading to Kuala Lumpur in September 2015.
“They used forged identification documents,” he said.
Mohamad Fuzi said Bukit Aman will continue its operations against foreign terrorist elements planning to use Malaysia as a hideout and transit point.
“Since early this year, 41 foreign terrorists have been detained,” he said.
Among those held were 15 Philippine nationals, four Yemenis, six Indonesians, three Iraqis and a Palestinian.
The latest arrests bring the total number of militants arrested to 332 since February 2013.
The Counter Terrorism Division has also thwarted 18 terror plots since that time, he added.
Security Services Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Mustapa Ali said he would have to check with police on the matter before commenting.
“I have to look at the full report, including where they (suspects) were working, as well as the companies that employed them.
“I will be able to comment once I have seen the report,” he said.
Asked if security companies were required to perform stringent checks before hiring security guards, Mustapa said such checks were a must.