S’porean a suspected militant
Businessman was among six nabbed in anti-terror swoop
KUALA LUMPUR: A Singaporean businessman, 48, was among six suspected militants detained in a three-state anti-terror swoop, said Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
The Inspector-General of Police said the others were two locals and along three foreigners – one from Bangladesh, a Filipino and another from a south Asian country.
“They were detained by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division in Johor, Selangor and Sabah between Dec 19 and Jan 28,” he said in a statement.
He said the arrests followed intelligence conducted by the unit.
The Singaporean businessman, who was detained in Johor Baru on Dec 19, had received orders from Malaysian militant leader Akel Zainal, to launch an attack on a Freemason building in the city, the IGP said.
“He was in constant contact with Akel, who is in Syria.
“We also discovered that he channelled funds to Akel,” he said.
The arrest was made possible through close cooperation between Malaysia’s Special Branch and Singapore’s Internal Security Department.
“The suspect was handed to the Singaporean authorities on Jan 7 after the investigation on our end concluded,” the IGP said.
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs later confirmed that the Singaporean businessman identified as Mohamed Kazali Salleh, has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Mohamad Fuzi said the second arrest, also on Dec 19, involved the arrest of a 31-year-old Bangladeshi cleaner in Klang.
“We believe he is an avid supporter of IS and he was tasked with recruiting militants for the terror group,” he said.
On Jan 10, the two local men who had been deported from a foreign country for their involvement with IS, were arrested in Sepang.
“One of them had given funds to Malaysian militant Khairul Amizan Azmi, who is in Syria,” Mohamad Fuzi said.
A 21-year-old Filipino, a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, was the fifth to be detained on Jan 19.
“The suspect was arrested in Kota Kinabalu. We believe he entered the country illegally in March last year.
“The suspect has expertise in handling an array of weapons and he has connections to Abu Sayyaf leader Furiji Indama,” he said adding that 39 ASG militants have been detained since 2017.
The country’s top cop said a 26-year-old south Asian man was detained in Puchong on Jan 28.
“He was arrested for harbouring another fellow countrymen, who is listed under Interpol’s Red Notice for his involvement in terrorist activities,” he said.
Mohamad Fuzi said all suspects were detained under the Security Measures (Special Offences) Act (Sosma) 2012.