THREAT OF VIOLENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA MODERATELY LOW - AHMAD ZAHID

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The threat of violence in Southeast Asia remains a concern but such threats are moderately low said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid who chaired a High-Level Committee meeting on Terrorism Control today however, said Malaysia in general remains a popular transit destination for operatives of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) to launch attacks at other destinations.

“The influx of foreigners from Central Asia, South Asia and Africa also contributes to the spread of terrorist activities in Malaysia,” he said in a statement after the meeting.

Ahmad Zahid who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister said the government would continue to monitor the situation and risks posed by terrorist groups like Daesh and Jemaah Islamiyah, as well as cooperate with other countries.

Such initiatives are aimed at identifying individuals suspected to be involved in terrorist activities, be it Malaysians or from other countries.

Speaking of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), Ahmad Zahid said 565 individuals have been detained under the Act with 368 of them locals.

“Meanwhile, 559 individuals were detained between 2013 and 2020, and the rest after the COVID-19 pandemic," he said adding that the statistics clearly showed a slide in the intensity of violence in the country albeit the effects of the pandemic.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the government was consistently carrying out deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes for individuals involved in terrorist activities. 

In terms of the Global Terrorism Index, Malaysia has shown an improved performance, as the country’s ranking in the 2022 Global Terrorism Index featuring 163 countries, improved compared to the previous year, dropping by seven notches to sit at the 75th spot as authorities tightened their grip on domestic terror-related activities.

Among the 10 ASEAN countries, Malaysia remained in fifth spot.

“Though terrorism is not the main threat to the security of the country currently, but based on the Global Security Index, the advancement of technology like Artificial Intelligence and virus can potentially be exploited as elements of terrorism, like lonewolf or pack,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid reiterated that the government remains committed and would not compromise on any attempts to disrupt peace and harmony.

-- BERNAMA