Malaysia: Country on high alert from threat of returning IS terrorists

Event

On Monday, July 10, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein announced that intelligence reports indicate that following the Iraqi military's victory in Mosul, foreign Islamic State (IS) fighters fleeing the Middle East are planning to transition their operations to Southeast Asia. In response, the defense minister said that Malaysia must be on high alert. The country has reportedly increased border security at all points of entry, especially along the east coast of Sabah, and additional security personnel have been deployed to the Sulu Sea.

Context

In January 2016, the Malaysian police placed the country on the highest security alert level. On June 28, 2016, a grenade attack at a bar in the town of Puchong injured eight people. Local authorities later confirmed that it was a terrorist attack perpetrated by individuals with links to IS.

A Malaysian counter-terrorism official said in July 2017 that eight Malaysians have returned from Syria and Iraq since 2014, all of whom were arrested. However, opposition leaders claim the government has intentionally politicized the threat posed by IS in the run-up to general elections, which must occur on or before August 24, 2018. According to one opposition official, since special security measures were introduced five years ago, 979 suspects have been arrested but only 177 were related to IS, of which 43 were foreigners.

Advice

Individuals present in Malaysia should remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Due to a high risk of terrorist attack, always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).