Madrasah under surveillance, says IGP

In an exclusive interview with The New Straits Times, Khalid promised action to be taken against those involved in militant activities.

He also said that the police are monitoring the Madrasah Nurul Hidayah which was co-founded by former PAS Kedah member Mohd Lofti Ariffin who died last year alongside Islamic State militants in Syria.

“We are monitoring this madrasah as well as other entities and individuals who may incite people to fight in Syria. Necessary action will be taken,” he told the daily yesterday.

The New York Times had on Jan 14, interviewed Lofti’s family members for an exclusive video “The Jihadist In Our Family” where they had also interviewed his students from Madrasah Nurul Hidayah.

The students were also advised by Lofti’s brother, who also teaches at the school, to follow Lotfi’s path.

Special Branch (Operations/Counter Terrorism division) assistant director-general Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay who was also interviewed in the video said Lofti had a lot of charisma and had attracted his followers to go to Syria to fight alongside the IS militants.

He said they had managed to recruit people of various background including students, professors and professionals to join in the militants.

“If we allow them to go to Syria, they will get training there and expertise on how to make bomb and handle weapon. They will strengthen their ideology and come back,” he said in the video.

Meanwhile, Sabah State Assembly speaker, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Tun Said had also called on the government to monitor and tighten existing rules, especially on private schools in the country which were suspected to instill fanatic ideologies.