M’sia considered as a ‘safe haven’ for terrorists

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5: Special Branch’s counter-terrorism division chief said that foreign terrorists usually consider Malaysia as a safe haven or a transit country before continuing their actions elsewhere.

According to FMT, Normah Ishak said that, this is why there have not been many violent terrorist attacks in the country.

Normah also revealed that 51 of the 558 people apprehended over terrorism links were women, with 36 of them being Malaysians, speaking at a symposium on women’s role in terrorism financing.

Malaysia’s welcoming immigration policies, particularly the visa-on-arrival service for individuals from many countries, including those from which these foreign terrorists originate, are a “pull factor” for these terror organisations, according to Normah.

“I don’t think there is any memorandum of understanding (MoU) or cooperation between terrorist groups in Malaysia and those in other countries,” she was quoted as saying by FMT.

Instead, she claimed foreign members of terror organisation are merely “passing through our territory” and will attempt to avoid any confrontations with local enforcement and the government.

“Everything is done secretly and quietly.

“They are neither particularly resilient, nor do they possess the requisite ‘staying power’ to achieve their organization’s objectives.

“Many of them lack the drive or mindset to sacrifice in the way that other terrorist groups do to truly achieve their movement’s goals,” she was quoted as saying by FMT

She claimed 13 of the 36 Malaysian women apprehended have been charged and 16 have been released.

“Two more are being held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota), and five more under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca),” she added.