KUALALUMPUR: Police in Malasiya have stepped up security measures upon the arrest of 9 terrorist suspects last month. The arrest signals of the infiltration of foreign terrorists in the country.
Police has taken their presence seriously and will continue to cooperate with foreign intelligence agencies to weed out undesirable elements, according to Mohd Fuzi Harun, inspector general of police.
Nine terror suspects including six Egyptians and one Tunisian were arrested in Klang Valley and Sarawak between Feb 2 and Feb 9.
Two of them, a 21-year-old Egyptian and a 22-year-old Tunisian are said to be members of Ansar Al Shariah Al Tunisia, who entered Malaysia using false Syrian travel documents. Based in North Africa, Ansar Am Shariah Al Tunisia is listed by the United Nations as an international terrorist group responsible for planning large scale attacks in several countries.
The other five Egyptians picked up by police special branch on counter terrorism are members of Muslim Brotherhood Al Ikhwanul Muslimin and functioned as facilitators to secure lodging, logistics and jobs including buying air tickets for members.
Two of them were students from institutions of higher learning in Malaysia, while another two were teachers, one at a religious school in Klang valley and another an Arabic teacher.
Also arrested were two Malaysians in Serian Sarawak who were charged with terror offences as facilitators to foreign fighters.
All seven foreigners were deported to their home countries on Mar 5 and blacklisted in Malaysia. The Malaysia police also outlined some common methods used by foreign fighters to come in and operate in Malaysia including marrying locals in order to get a spouse visa. Others exploit their student visa or try to set up businesses in Malaysia. (Agencies)
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