Malaysia's DPM: Militants can't come home

KUCHING - Over 130 Malaysians who are now in Syria and Iraq fighting for the Islamic State (IS) will not be allowed to return home, said Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said police were working with Interpol to ensure that these militants do not come back to Malaysia.

"The decision to bar them from returning home is to safeguard the country's peace and stability," said Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister.

Hisham: Sabah security sufficient to thwart IS threat

Sabah. Source: Internet

KUCHING: Sufficient measures have been taken to beef up security in Sabah to face the Islamic State (IS) threat, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

The Defence Minister, who is in Sarawak on a three-day working visit, said the best efforts had been put in to implement the measures in Sabah.

They include refurbishing two offshore oil platforms as offshore bases, upgrading the Hawk aircraft stationed in Sabah and equipping Blackhawk and Nuri helicopters with weapons.

Saudi envoy lauds Malaysia’s role in combating terrorism

Police officers from the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division. Source: The Star

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — The authorities’ recent success in detaining terror suspects and Islamic State supporters, received praise from Saudi Arabian envoy Fahad Abdullah Al-Rashid, who felt that in this regard Malaysia could somewhat contribute towards the Saudi Arabia-led alliance of 34 Muslim nations in combating terrorism.

The ambassador to Malaysia said that this country was an important and advanced Islamic nation, not only in terms of its military but also its intelligence unit.

“Malaysia’s strength in the intelligence unit is highly welcomed in this alliance,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.

Singapore to keep contributing to global anti-terrorism effort: Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE: The Republic’s military will carry on deploying resources to the international effort against terrorism as it directly contributes to Singapore’s safety, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Thursday (Jan 28).

Dr Ng was responding in Parliament to questions from MP Alex Yam for updates on the nation’s involvement in the global anti-ISIS coalition.

The House was first informed in November 2014 that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would support the multi-national coalition against the extremist threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Dr Ng recalled. Since then, there have been attacks in Paris, Istanbul and recently Jakarta. Along with the arrest of the 27 radicalised Bangladeshis in Singapore, these are “unfortunate but stark examples that underscore a truth”, he said.

MILF forms task force to fight off recruitment for ISIS

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it has formed a task force to counter the recruitment activities being conducted in the name of the Islamic State in Central Mindanao and nearby areas.

Mohagher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, said the formation of the task force came in the wake of confirmed reports that some personalities, claiming to have links with IS, have been convincing people in such areas as Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur to support and join their cause for the establishment of the Islamic caliphate.

“The recruitment activities as well the video of their training that came out were authentic,” Iqbal said.

Thousands of Indonesian elite soldiers sent to hunt for Santoso in the forest

Thousands of Indonesian Military (TNI) special forces officers have been deployed to Poso, Central Sulawesi, to join the manhunt for East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) leader Santoso.

The elite troops joined police units, such as the Mobile Brigade and counterterrorism unit Densus 88, that had earlier joined Operation Tinombala.

The soldiers arrived in Palu and Poso from Jakarta on board Indonesian Air Force planes and then continued their journey to Poso by car, while others arrived on naval ships directly from Surabaya to Poso.

Security agencies urged to improve intelligence gathering

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19: While co-operation with all security agencies patrolling Malaysian waters is ongoing, there is a need to improve on intelligence gathering, said Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Laksamana Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Badaruddin.

“Information sharing and patrols must also be done effectively,” he told reporters during a courtesy call from the Pakistan Navy chief of Naval Staff Adm Muhammad Zakaullah at Wisma Pertahanan recently.

Jakarta attacks could mark start of ISIS campaign in Southeast Asia

Last week's deadly attacks in Jakarta could mark the start of a violent campaign by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in South-east Asia unless more is done to counter the group, experts have warned.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the gun and bomb attacks that ripped through a busy commercial district of the Indonesian capital, leaving four civilians dead and more than 20 injured.

It could have been a lot bloodier, said Dr Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore, if Indonesian security forces had not arrested more than a dozen militants over the past two months, dismantling two terror cells in the process.

Najib: More police, army patrols to assure security

PUTRAJAYA: There will be increased police and military presence in public and tourist areas to assure the people of their safety.

This is among the decisions made by the National Security Council, which met on Tuesday to discuss the country's security following the terror attacks which took place around major cities around the world.

Closer to home, a terror attack by the Islamic State occured in Jakarta last week, killing at least eight people.

Hisham: Armed forces ready to be deployed in fight against terrorism

GENTING HIGHLANDS: The military is ready to deploy its assets to specific locations in the country to deal with threats by the Daesh militant group, if required by the National Security Council (NSC), said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

The Defence Minister said the issue of Daesh-led terrorist attacks required careful discussions, and the need to involve military personnel should be decided by the NSC chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Our national security illusions - Nurul Izzah

THE world is witnessing unprecedented rising violence although formal declarations of war are few. Terrorism continues to claim an ever-greater number of lives. It seems to be spreading, irrespective of religious, national or cultural identity.

Customarily, our immediate response to threats and incidents of terrorist violence is to enhance "security" measures with the hope of containing violent extremism. Unfortunately, terrorism continues to morph into newer niches, rendering many counter-measures largely ineffective.

This failure reminds us that perhaps we have not fully grasped the multiple dimensions of the "security" challenge.

In command of our seas - Talking with New Royal Malaysian Navy Chief

THE world is changing fast, and so are the security challenges and issues facing our Royal Malaysian Navy.

The new chief of the RMN, however, is taking everything in his stride.

“The Navy must adapt. The security threats are redefining the way we manage modern armies,” Admiral Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin tells The Star at his office in Wisma Pertahanan.

Malaysia's Participation In Alliance 34 Only To Share Information - MAF Chief

PORT DICKSON, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's participation in the alliance of 34 Islamic countries headed by Saudi Arabia to combat militant activities and violence is only to share information and does not involve military operation.

Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said Malaysia's participation in the alliance was in line with the nation's policy to fight any form of violence.

"It is just an alliance of 34 countries to combat violence, it does not involve military alliance, it is not a military pact, just a loose alliance.

I Never Said 70 Military Personnel Involved In IS - Rahim

KOTA KINABALU, April 13  - Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri denied that he said 70 military personnel in the country had joined the IS militant group.

"The news portal distorted my statement. What I said was that according to the police, almost 70 Malaysians of various background had joined the IS. I never said they were military personnel," he said in a statement Monday night.

"This report is malicious and aimed at tarnishing the image of the Malaysian Armed Forces," he said, referring to the news portal report quoting him as saying that 70 military personnel had joined the IS.

Abdul Rahim said the police are still investigating the background of Malaysians involved in the IS and only they can to decide on the matter. (Bernama)