IGP: Threats by militants in latest video not taken lightly

KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman said the threats posed by the Malaysian Islamic State (IS) militant inciting extremist action along with two other militants in the latest video were serious and they would not take these lightly.

“We have and will always remain on alert for any terror threat. Staying vigilant is the key,” Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said when contacted here yesterday.

The IGP was commenting on the eight-minute, 12-second video clip, which showed the militants calling on Muslims to launch attacks in their own countries if they were unable to join the terror group in Syria and Iraq.

“We always emphasise collecting actionable intelligence on any possible terror activity.

“Thwarting militants is always a priority and we are watchful for any development involving terror groups and will take preemptive action,” he said.

In a report by The Star, the latest IS video had featured 25-year-old Malaysian Muhammad Aqif Heusen Rahizat, who could be seen urging Muslims to rise up. He was accompanied by Singaporean Abu Akil Al-Singapuri@Kamal and a third, unidentified militant.

“Come join us (IS) in Syria and Iraq but if you cannot, I urge you to launch attacks on the enemies of Islam in your own countries.

“Do you still have any reason for being left behind from rising up?” Muhammad Aqif said in the video at the 2:32 mark. Abu Akil was also heard urging militants to stay firm as the fighting had just begun.

“We will never stop until we cleanse the land from east Asia to west of Africa,” he said.

At the end of the video, the three militants were shown fatally shoot- ing three individuals, believed to be their prisoners.

Intelligence sources said the video was first aired on Khayr Wilayah – one of the official media for IS – on Dec 29 in Arabic and English.

Other sources said Muhammad Aqif, who is also known as Abu Sufyan Malayzi, left for Syria on Dec 28, 2013.

In Syria, he joined the Ajnad Al-Syam militant group, which also had former PAS leader and ISA detainee Mohd Lotfi Ariffin as a member.

After Mohd Lotfi’s death on Sept 14, 2014, Muhammad Aqif joined IS.

We always emphasise collecting actionable intelligence on any terror activity. Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun