No ATM members involved in Daish this year - Hishammuddin
Rahimah Abdullah
October 20, 2016 13:12 MYT
October 20, 2016 13:12 MYT
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein checking the guns used by the ATM members during a function in Sik, Kedah in July last year. - fotoBERNAMA / File
No Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) members were detected to be inclined to or engaged in Daish militant activities this year, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
The Defence Minister said, the Daish notion which has influenced the security forces is still under control and limited to certain individuals only.
"In 2014, two members of the ATM were identified and arrested by the police. However, only one person was charged in court.
"Whereas in 2015, 11 people were arrested and charged in court where nine of them were found guilty and sentenced, and two others were put on trial," he said when responding to Gopeng Member of Parliament Dr Lee Boon Chye at the Dewan Rakyat here today.
However, Hishammuddin said, the ATM also has implemented awareness initiatives for its members through the ATM Hero Shield Task Force programme.
"The Task Force is a combination of the Defence Intelligence Staff Division (BSPP) and the intelligence services of the Army, Navy and Air Forces, which is strengthened by the involvement of Armed Forces Religious Corps," he added.
Through its Capability Development Plan, ATM's asset capacity and equipments were also developed in tandem with quality human capital development which includes the spiritual and identity aspects.
"At the same time, the ATM is always be prepared and capable to face all spectrum of threats, including traditional ones, terrorism and global security through the concept of Operation Other Than War (OOTW)," he said.
In addition, training in the physical aspect, cyber technologies and terrorism management was always carried out periodically to increase the ATM members' skill in fending off the threat of terrorism.
"ATM is also part of the Task Force established by the National Security Council (NSC) together with the police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to address the threat of Daish.
"The establishment of this Task Force is another initiative under National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS)," said Hishammuddin.