Malaysia plans to introduce a specific law to deal with threats of terrorism, in the wake of reports that Islamic State fighters from the country are returning home to spread the terror group’s ideology.
Prime Minister Najib Razak tabled a White Paper entitled “Tackling the IS Threat” in the parliament, saying the present legislations are insufficient in dealing with the Islamic State terror group which has captured a large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.
Razak said Malaysia is committed to work with the international community to fight extremist ideologies.
“This White Paper proposes to strengthen existing laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, Prevention of Crime Act and the Penal code to curb the threat of terrorism and militancy,” he told Parliament.
“I hope to gain the support of all levels of society so that the people will not be influenced by such ideologies,” Najib said, and urged all Malaysians especially youths and parents to reject this extremist ideology.
Najib said Malaysia will cooperate with the international community in combating radicalism, extremism, terrorism and militancy.
The 19-page White Paper with a 12-page appendix, including photographs of IS militants and locations stated that the new anti-terror law was required to stamp out threats of militancy after 39 Malaysians joined the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.
It further stated that 19 suspects escaped court charges due to insufficient proof and efforts to address the threat had become more challenging.
“To address new threats concerning the presence of militants in conflict areas and returnees to Malaysia, a specific law is needed,” the White Paper said.
“The rise of IS influence can inspire and re-ignite militant groups in Malaysia. The call to jihad by IS is very influential as it is based on Islamic compulsion that has been manipulated so Malaysians are compelled to join them,” it said.
The document, which was presented to all members of Parliament yesterday, stated that the government must act immediately to contain the influence of IS, Star paper reported.
IS is an al-Qaeda splinter group and it has seized hundreds of square miles in Iraq and Syria. Al-Qaeda has distanced itself from the group, chiding it for its lack of teamwork in its aggressive, brutal expansion.
The group has killed hundreds of Iraqi and Syrian tribesmen who opposed it and carried out beheadings of several foreign prisoners on camera.