UM lecturer among 5 hunted by police for terrorism activities

A screenshot from the police official website showing the details of Dr Mahmud Ahmad who is wanted for militant activities. – July 2, 2014.

A lecturer at Universiti Malaya's Academy of Islamic Studies is one of five people wanted by police for involvement in militant activities, according to a list uploaded on the police website today.

The 36-year-old man, identified as Dr Mahmud Ahmad, is a senior lecturer at the Department of Akidah and Islamic Thought, according to the university website.

He and four others are believed to have fled Malaysia and are in hiding in the southern Philippines.

In a statement, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said three of them were involved in recruiting and sending Malaysian recruits to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (Isil) fighters in Syria, while two were members of Darul Islam Sabah and had joined the Abu Sayyaf.

Sources familiar with the investigation said Mahmud is one of the three Isil recruiters.

“He (Mahmud) is still with the university but has been missing for the past two months,” said the source.

The lecturer, who is married, is also known by his other name, Abu Handzalah.

His last known address was in Batu Caves.

The other two are Mohd Najib Husen from Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, and Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee.

The 36-year-old Mohd Najib owned a photocopy and stationery shop in Universiti Malaya while Muhammad Joraimee, 39, from Batu Caves, is working with the Selayang Municipal Council.

Sources said Mahmud belonged to one of the Islamist groups in Malaysia linked to Isil.

The cell he belonged to was also linked to the group which conducted combat training for Malaysian militants at Gunung Arang Para, in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, in December last year.

Two more people being sought by the police are Mohd Amin Baco, 31, and Jeknal Adil, 30. Both are from Tawau, Sabah.

They are members of Darul Islam Sabah and both are said to have joined the Abu Sayyaf group based in the southern Philippines.

Militant groups in Malaysia are using isolated places, such as the areas around Gunung Arang Para, to hold combat training for Malaysian jihadist who are heading for Syria and Iraq to fight in the civil war.

At least 10 militant members underwent weapons training at the grounds of Gunung Arang Para for two days last December.

Other than Kuala Kangsar, the group also used a training site in Port Dickson.

As more militant groups are discovered in the country, authorities believed there could be more training sites yet to be uncovered.

It is learnt that the militants also trained in the southern Philippines and had made their way to Sabah. They planned to fly to Syria and Iraq, where Isil is carrying out sustained attacks to topple the existing regime.

The Counter Terrorism Division has been rounding up members of the militant group since April 28.

The suspects were detained in Selangor, Kedah, Perak and Sabah.

The latest arrests were made end of last month, involving a Rela member and a Navy personnel.

The Rela member, aged 46, was arrested on June 25 in Kuala Kangsar.

Police seized a home-made rifle and 433 live bullets from him.

Police believed there were more than 100 Malaysian militants in the Middle East fighting for Isil.

The number is based on intelligence reports which the Special Branch had received, a senior police officer from Bukit Aman told The Malaysian Insider.

- TMI