Armed forces personnel linked to IS will be dismissed from service - Hishammuddin

The defence ministry will dismiss Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) personnel from service if they were found involved with IS militants.

Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said: "There will be no warning. As I have said before, if we receive such information, we will make arrest and they (errant ATM persobbel) will be dismissed from service.

"The Religion Corps (Kor Agama) has been ordered to find a new method to curb the spread of extremism among ATM personnel.

"Our Intelligence Unit has been monitoring the situation for some time although the number (of soldiers involved with IS) is not large," he told reporters after a 'Sembrong Qurban Perdana' programme in Taman Desa Sejahtera here Saturday.

More than 100 Malaysians were detained over their links with the IS.

Hishammuddin said although the involvement of ATM personnel with IS was not serious, pro-active measures to monitor the situation must be continued.

"Those who have gone abroad told us they were stopped from returning home by certain parties."

On his meeting with Saudi Arabian Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman in Jeddah on Sept 23, he said they also discussed the IS threat.

Hishammuddin said Malaysia and Saudi Arabia agreed to enhance exchange of intelligence and information to curb the IS ideology.

"The experience of Middle Eastern countries in dealing with the IS threat can help us take pro-active measures in dealing with them."