Issues on Daish militants expected to be raised at ADMM in Laos - Hishammuddin

Issues relating to Daish militants, which is becoming a global threat, is expected to be raised through the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) in Vientiane, Laos, from May 24-27.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Malaysia viewed the threat seriously and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) should also take note of the matter.

"I am going to Laos to attend the ADMM and I am confident the issue will be discussed in the regional context. In the past, the threat of militant terrorism was the responsibility of the Home Ministry but the issue is now under the Defence Ministry.

"The soldiers have also been involved and this is a new thing that ATM must take into account and work closely with neighbouring countries," he told reporters after attending an annual memorial prayer for the late Tun Hussein Onn in Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) here today.

He was commenting on the arrest of 14 individuals, including a woman, suspected of having links to Daish militants in a police operation from Tuesday until yesterday. Also present were Johor state legislative assembly Tan Sri Mohamad Aziz and UTHM vice chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Noh Dalimin.

On the arrest of the 14 individuals, Hishammuddin who is also UMNO vice president, said the threat from the militant group was a matter that should not be taken for granted by all parties.

He said the arrests involved was a proactive and preventive measure rather than something new because several arrests had been made previously based on intelligence received.