Malaysia Plans Anti-terror Law amid ’ISIL’ Fears

Local Editor

Muslim-majority Malaysia will soon introduce a new anti-terrorism law to counter a potential security threat from supporters of the extremist "ISIL" group, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Wednesday.

Najib told parliament his government also would strengthen existing security-related laws as authorities express mounting concern that Malaysians who have joined the "ISIL" terrorists in Syria and Iraq will return home to spread terrorism.

"Looking at the potential threat from this group, we fear the return of Malaysians from the conflict zone in Syria and Iraq will be detrimental to national security," Najib said.

He expressed concern that returnees will come back with battlefield expertise and could carry out "lone wolf" attacks, but did not elaborate on what the new terror legislation would entail.

Najib made the announcement as he introduced a government white paper on the terrorism threat that said 39 Malaysians had gone to join the fighting in Syria, and that five had been killed.
The document also said that as of November 13, authorities had arrested 40 Malaysians at home for suspected "ISIL" links.

Twenty-one had been charged with various offences, while the rest were released due to lack of evidence but remain under police surveillance.

In August, police said they had foiled an "ISIL"-inspired plot to bomb pubs, discos and a Malaysian brewery of Danish beer producer Carlsberg, arresting more than one dozen people.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team