15 Malaysian Military Members Arrested On Terror Ties Since 2013

Fifteen Malaysian military personnel have been arrested for alleged involvement in terrorist activities since 2013, according to the nation’s anti-terror chief, Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

Of the 15, three were released after investigations, five were charged for terrorism-related activities, and seven others are being held under anti-crime laws that cover acts of terrorism, Ayob told BenarNews.

“We are working with the military on this matter. IS influences everybody; military and police personnel are not exempted,” he said, referring to the so-called Islamic State group.

On Sept. 26, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was quoted as saying that about 1 percent of suspected IS supporters arrested to date were members of the nation’s armed forces.

He did not give the number of military suspects, or an overall number of people arrested for suspected ties to IS. But he said his department was taking the development seriously.

“We are going all out. The Military Religious Corps (Kagat) and Military Intelligence have been tasked to monitor and gather intelligence on our men and women for any signs that they may be influenced by militant propaganda,” Malaysian daily The Star quoted him as saying.

“Whoever has access to computer is exposed to the threat of Daesh,” he said, using another name for IS.

“Whether they are a soldier, whether it is our son, our children, could be a bus driver, they are considered to be someone that is potentially capable of conducting threats of that nature,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of an international military seminar in Kuala Lumpur.