Terror suspect taught up to three classes per week

KUALA LUMPUR: A 33-year-old Middle Eastern man arrested for spreading extremist Salafi Jihadi teachings had been holding up to three classes per week in Kuala Lumpur.

The man used to be one of the teachers at an Islamic Learning Centre in Perlis that authorities now believe is a starting point for a Yemen-based terror group.

Before police swooped in, the centre had been recruiting new members and promoting their teachings, which permitted the killing of non-Muslims and even Muslims who do not follow their ways.

“The suspect was arrested in KL as he left the centre a while back.

“However, investigations revealed that he had been actively organising classes on Salafi Jihadi teachings in the Klang Valley.

“He had up to three classes per week. It is very alarming,” a source said yesterday.

It is learnt that the authorities, specifically the police’s Counter Terrorism Division, is now tracking down the suspect’s movement and whom he had met and even recruited before his arrest.

He was among eight men – seven foreigners and a Malaysian – detained on Sept 24 in Perlis, Kuala Lumpur and Johor with links to the centre that had been operating for seven years.

Intelligence sources revealed that the centre’s administrators had attempted to hide their true activities under the guise of only teaching Islamic-based syllabus.

“However, it is an entirely different story inside the centre where they teach and practise their own twisted version of Islam.

“Salafi Jihadi is a belief that many terror groups based their struggle on.

“The authorities believe that the centre is a starting point for a Yemen-based terror group to plant its seeds in Malaysia as well as make the country a hub of Salafi Jihadi teachings in the region,” a source said.

Authorities are also working towards identifying other students and teachers of the centre.

“This is not just a cult but it is a terror movement. Most of the foreigners detained have links with other terror suspects in their home countries. They are also being investigated for connections with terror activities there,” the source said.

When contacted, Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division head Deputy Comm Datuk Ayob Khan said the spreading of Salafi Jihadi teachings was a very serious matter that must be curbed.

“We are working to collect actionable intelligence to prevent the spread of such teachings as well as working with relevant authorities.

“We want to ensure that such teachings and any terror group or cult does not gain a foothold in the country,” he said.