‘Govt aware terrorists using country as transit’

SERDANG: Terrorist groups have been using the country as a transit point for the past several years, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Home Minister said Malaysia was among one of those countries and that the authorities were aware of this.

“What is important is to ensure that these elements are not left unchecked.

“In this aspect, the police’s Counter-Terrorism Unit is important to carry out investigations, arrest those involved in terrorism linked activities and charge them in court,” he said.

“These groups are mainly Islamic terrorist groups and we have gotten cooperation from many other agencies, as well as countries, to address the issue.

“We are forced to use appropriate laws such as Security Offences (Special Measures) Act to deal with them,” he told reporters after attending the Home Ministry Family Day celebrations yesterday.

According to the United States Department of State’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2018, Malaysia was not attacked by terrorist groups such as Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda but was used by them as a source and transit point.

It said Malaysia was used as a transit point by suspected IS supporters deported from Turkey and those planning to travel to the southern Philippines to support IS affiliated groups.

Muhyiddin also said action was ongoing to secure the borders around Sabah.

“We are aware of the cases there such as kidnappings. Some victims have already been released and some are still being held there.

“In Sabah, one of the main challenges is the vast borders and the position of islands from our neighbours – the Phillippines – which are close by,” he said.

“There are some instances where these groups hide on these islands. For this reason, the Eastern Sabah Security Command was formed and the Eastern Sabah Security Zone was launched.

“We have the police and General Operations Force in position to take action within this area when they have information of these activities,” he added.

Muhyiddin said there was cooperation with the Philippines to tackle the issue, but since such activities were occurring in the country, Malaysia had to use its own laws.

“Our military and the police force will join forces to carry out enforcement in the affected areas.

“We also have assets such as helicopters and ships to patrol the borders,” he said, adding that as the possibility of trespassing was always there, Malaysia needed to be proactive to prevent such incidents.

Our military and the police force will join forces to carry out enforcement in the affected areas.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin