Malaysians joining Islamic State
> Precautions, however, needed as group still eyes country: Ayob
KUALA LUMPUR: The trend of Malaysians joining the Islamic State (IS) terrorist movement appears to have slowed in recent times following the drone assassination of IS recruiter Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi.
Federal police Special Branch’s Counter-Terrorism Division assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (pix) said although Malaysians may have slowed down joining the IS, it does not mean that the terror cell is not active.
Speaking after giving a keynote address on terrorism at the “Pemikiran Ummah 1438/2017” symposium yesterday, Ayob said we must take precautions because IS had stated that Malaysia was one of their targets.
Ayob said other militants residing in Syria, such as Wan Mohd Aquil Wan Zainal Abidin, also known as “Akel Zainal”, were believed to be active. He said the biggest challenge is “lone wolf” terrorists who act alone and stressed that intelligence is very important in tackling this seemingly new terrorism threat.
“Events in Europe show that even though they have the best technology, round-theclock surveillance, the authorities are still unable to detect terrorist activities. Lone wolf terrorists can get into a lorry and crash it into a place or buildings,” he said.
He said a lone wolf gets instructions from Syria but is not linked with local terror cells or any suspects.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mhd Amin Nordin Abd Aziz, who launched the symposium, said the city council worked hand-in-hand with police to combat terrorism in the country.