PUTRAJAYA, Jan 23 – Those detained or convicted for supporting the Islamic State (IS) militant group will be segregated to stop them from spreading their ideology. Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in addition to spreading their ideology, they might train the others to become terrorists.
“We don’t want them to leave prison after being brainwashed with such ideology,” he told a press conference after receiving a courtesy call from United States Asst Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel R. Russel at his office, here today.
A total of 120 people who supported the IS are being detained in prisons in Tapah (Perak) and Bentong (Pahang), which have special cells. The ministry (KDN) had sent Islamic experts in ideology to counsel those suspected of supporting the IS cause to restore their faith in the religion.
The IS supporters claimed they were influenced by friends campaigning for the so-called holy war in Syria and Iraq. “Those who have returned home regretted their actions and described the situation over there as ‘far from the truth’ and felt cheated by false promises made before traveling to these countries.”
Zahid said 67 Malaysians are believed to have joined the IS cause in Syria and Iraq. On the visit, he said Russel praised Malaysia’s efforts to curb human trafficking by working with non-governmental organisations (NGO) to provide accommodation to the victims.
Malaysia and the United States also made a a commitment to enhance cooperation, including to find and provide jobs to victims of human trafficking. On efforts to extradite Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar who is being detained in Australia, he said the KDN had directed the Police (PDRM) to deal with the Australia government via Wisma Putra (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
“Since we have to go through several processes, it is best to leave it to Wisma Putra to handle. The KDN will copperate via PDRM and the Justice Department.” Asked about the status of Corporal Sirul Azhar and Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, Zahid said they were no longer police personnel after being sentenced to death by the Federal Court on Jan 13.
Sirul and Azilah were charged with murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006 and were convicted by the High Court in 2009. On Aug 23, 2013, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal by Sirul and Azilah and acquitted them of the charges. On Jan 13, the Federal Court set aside the acquittal of Sirul and Azilah and sentenced them to death by hanging. The Federal Court also issued a warrant of arrest for Sirul for failing to attend court.
