The mere mention of Islamic State (ISIS) might strike terror into the hearts of ordinary men, but Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is unperturbed by the revelation that agents operating under the Middle Eastern terror organisation had conspired to kidnap him, along with Prime Minister Najib Razak and Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi early last year.
“I’m not scared, it’s not me as an individual (that they’re after), but the post (of defence minister) that I hold,” Hishammuddin told Bernama after Zahid, who now also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, told the Dewan Rakyat today of a (failed, obviously) plot to abduct himself, Hishamuddin, and Najib in January 2014.
“Whatever it is, I leave it to the authorities to ensure the safety of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, as well as other Cabinet ministers.”
Zahid said today that it was only due to the efforts of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) that the plot to kidnap Malaysia’s three most powerful elected officials had been foiled.
In September 2014, agents belonging to the terror organisation planned to test explosives in Kedah. Other plans involved attacks on places of worship and entertainment outlets throughout the country.
“They also wanted to destroy the Free Mason Lodge in Bukit Jalil,” Zahid said.
Speaking inhis capacity as Minister of Defence, Hishammuddin assured that all Malaysian military installations, particularly those that held caches of firearms and munitions, would be securely monitored to avoid being infiltrated by militants intending to steal or misuse such equipment.
The Defence Ministry, he said, would also cooperate with its counterparts across the region and beyond to ensure universal security for all participating countries.
