After reports of Malaysians travelling to the Middle East to join Islamist militant movements there, this latest development might be its logical – and terrifying – conclusion: Islamic State, the fundamentalist militant group currently in control of parts of Iraq and Syria, has been planning terror attacks in Southeast Asia as well.
The group, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and The Levant (ISIL) before it expanded its aims beyond borders and regions, are now refocusing their Southeast Asian recruits, particularly Muslim radicals from Malaysia and Indonesia, to topple their secular home governments and help set up a Islamic caliphate in their places.
A new report by the South China Morning Post states that analysts and police officials in the region say that the participation of local radicals in Islamic State’s activities in the Middle East has increased the threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia.
Malaysian authorities have detained at least 19 suspects for having links to Islamic State in the past seven months.
“During questioning, they [the suspects] admitted one of their main objectives was to attack the government,” Ayub Khan, a senior official for Malaysia’s Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division, said.
“They also discussed planning attacks against a disco, pubs in Kuala Lumpur and a Carlsberg factory in Petaling Jaya.”
More than 20 Malaysians are known to have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State, although Ayub believes the real numbers are higher.
In May, 26-year old Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki is believed to have been the first Malaysian suicide bomber to have died while conducting a terror attack, during an operation in Iraq.
The Indonesian government has banned public support for Islamic State among its citizens, and have warned Indonesians not to join the militant group.
At least 56 Indonesians have joined Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and at least three have been killed. Noor Huda Ismail, an Indonesian counter-terrorism expert, says that recruits from the Philippines are also making their way to Syria.
Islamic State recruits both experienced militants from the region as well as newly radicalised Muslims who were inspired by the movement’s rapid expansion in the Middle East.
“Its appeal lies in its declaration of an Islamic caliphate, which is viewed by some Muslims as the realisation of a prophecy that a new Islamic order will emerge every 100 years,” Huda said.
See Also:
Malaysians have been joining ISIS militants in Iraq
Wisma Putra: 15 Malaysian militants believed killed in Syria
Police manhunt for five local militants with ties to ISIL
UM lecturer wanted for terrorism openly preached for holy war and martyrdom
Did Hamas operatives train for an attack on Israel in Malaysia?
