Special branch unit out to cut off terror funding sources

KUALA LUMPUR: The Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division (SB-CTD) is now focusing its efforts on cutting off sources of terrorism financing.

Federal SB-CTD assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said investigations into and action against terrorism financing were not a new aspect of the division’s work, but efforts had been intensified since the Islamic State (IS) headquarters in Raqqa, Syria, was destroyed.

“Maybe the funding was in small amounts, but there were many transactions involved. Just imagine if there were 10,000 (transactions), how much would that be?” he said.

Ayob said transactions varied from RM100 to RM1,000 per person. Since last year until now, 20 sympathisers aged between 20 and 40 from various backgrounds were nabbed.

“Those arrested were all Malaysians... they included teachers, lecturers, police and soldiers. Some sold their properties or were involved in small businesses to fund (IS),” he said, adding that the funds were transferred through Western Union or automated teller machines to Syria or Marawi in the Philippines.

However, Ayob said he did not have details of the total amount transferred.

Also, IS supporters in the country were typically categorised as lone wolves previously, but now investigators have coined a new term, “wolf pack”, for groups in the country comprising a small number of people.

A wolf pack comprises not more than six members, without links to other IS members or groups. The Federal police’s Counter-Terrorism Division (E8) has, so far, detected only one wolf pack in the country, intercepted planned attacks during the Better Beer Festival 2017, which had initially been scheduled to take place at Publika in Hartamas as well as non-Muslim places of worship and entertainment outlets.

The pack comprised three people — a 19-year-old Form Six student, a former soldier and a contractor — who were nabbed by counter-terrorism operatives in Kelantan on Oct 10 for alleged ties with the militant group.