Seven arrested over alleged involvement in Daish - IGP Khalid

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have arrested seven suspects on suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities, namely Daish.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in a statement today said the suspects were detained in the operations carried out by the Counter Terrorism Division conducted between Feb 21 to 26, 2017.

"The suspects comprise a Malaysian, an Indonesian citizen, a citizen of East Asia, and four Yemen citizens," the statement said.

The statement, among others, said that the first arrest was conducted on 21 February 2017 involving cell group Daish consisting of a Malaysian and an Indonesian citizen.

"A factory technician and a farmer, aged 41 and 28, were caught in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.

“The Indonesian suspect was expelled from Turkey in June 2016 after being caught trying to sneak into Syria to join the Daish group," the statement said.

Following police interrogations, it was revealed that the suspects received instructions from Mohamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi to launch attacks using large scale "vehicle-borne improvised explosive device" (VBIED) car bomb in Malaysia before sneaking out of the country to join Daish in Syria.

Another suspect, 37, a citizen of East Asia, was arrested on 23 Feb 2017 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The suspects were believed to be members of a terrorist group from East Asia which made Malaysia a transit point and protection.

"The suspect entered Malaysia in 2011 using a fake student identification card from an Institution of Higher Learning (IPTA) in the Klang Valley.

“Initial investigation confirmed that the suspect had a relationship with one of the members of the terrorist group from eastern Europe which regulates the entry of group members prior to their departure to Syria to join Daish," he said.

Meanwhile, four other suspects -- Yemeni citizens who were arrested on 26 Feb 2017 in Serdang and Cyberjaya -- were said to be members of a suspected rebel group in Yemen.

Initial investigations revealed that they were also involved in document forgery racket.

Police seized RM270,000 in various foreign currencies and a passport in the operations which were believed to be channeled to the rebel group.

The suspects were said to commit an offence under VIA Section -- offences related to terrorism, Penal Code (Act 574) -- and will be investigated in accordance with the procedure under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Act 747).

Meanwhile, one suspect was arrested under the Immigration Act 1959/63.