Zahid: IS ‘more difficult’ than communists
SINGAPORE: Tackling threats from Islamic State (IS) is more difficult than dealing with the communist insurgency, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“We had experience facing the communists. This time, we don’t have experience,” he said at the Asia-Europe CounterTerrorism Dialogue yesterday.
“Sharing (of experience) with Middle Eastern countries is limited due to differences in religious ideology as Malaysia is an Islamic country that practises a moderate ideology.”
Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, was one of the key speakers at the dialogue and spoke on the topic “New Threat Landscape in Asia and Europe”.
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia was willing to share with Europe its deradicalisation module, which had rehabilitated some 240 detainees in the last 10 years.
“It is about 97.5% successful. We have applied our extensive knowledge in countering subversive elements during our fight against communists to come up with a highly effective programme.”
Ahmad Zahid said an Integrated Deradicalisation for Terrorists programme had been developed by the Home Ministry, Prisons Department and police and is being used in deradicalising apprehended terrorists in Malaysia.
“This is a crucial time for us to strengthen our cooperation and friendship with Europe in encountering the threat of IS.
“What Asia and Europe have done are only prevention efforts that are yet to yield results in determining the root cause of terrorism,” he said. – Bernama