IS recruitment campaign not focusing on specific groups - Police

The so-called IS militant group has been carrying out its recruitment campaign in an overall manner and not by focusing on any groups of people, including civil servants and military personnel, in the country.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the people who were influenced (by the IS campaign) the most were those who sympathised with its struggle.

"So, it (the IS recruitment campaign) does not focus on civil servants. It is being done more in an overall manner.

"We know what they (IS) are doing and (we) know those who sympathise with the IS struggle. They are all under our watchful eyes," he told reporters after attending the investiture of the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara medal at the Kedah Police Contingent Headquarters here today.

A total of 300 former police personnel who served during the emergency era and during the communist insurgency received the medal at the investiture, which was also attended by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Kedah Police chief Datuk Zamri Yahya.

Noor Rashid said the militant group was using various technologies, including social networking sites, such as Facebook, in order to lure more people to become its members.

He said the police viewed seriously the threat of the IS group, but it was still under control.

"We are closely monitoring what they do and their campaigns and so far, although we view it seriously, it is not so threatening to the safety and security of the country," he added.