Two Malaysians in Isis beheading video identified, says report

Bukit Aman has identified two Malaysians who were spotted in a beheading video by Isis. – Reuters pic, March 4, 2015.Bukit Aman has identified two Malaysians who were spotted in a beheading video by Isis, The Star Online reported today.

Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayub Khan was reported as saying that the two are 20-year-old Mohd Faris Anuar from Kedah and Muhamad Wandy Muhamad Jedi, 26, who is from Malacca.

The report said that the duo are believed to be part of a new group of militants comprising Malaysians and Indonesians - Majmu'ah al Arkhabiliy.

This group, it was reported, replaced the older wing – Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiah – in Syria and Iraq.

In the 30-second video, Faris was the one gesturing with his index finger towards the camera, while Wandy was believed to be the one recording the video, it said.

The beheading video was uploaded to a Facebook account on February 20.

The report said the recording showed a militant identified as an Arab cattying out the beheading of a Syrian accused of being a spy for the Assad regime.

According to the Star online report, it also showed another militant identified as an Indonesian holding the head of the Syrian and shouting "Allahuakbar".

Ayub told the portal that from intelligence gathered, the video was taken by Muhamad Wanndy based on the voice heard in the clip.

He said the video also showed Muhamad Wandy, who is the owner of the Facebook account of Abu Hamzah Al Fateh.

The Star report said Muhamad Wandy is in Syria with his wife Nor Mahmudah, while Mohd Faris is believed to have gone to Syria in September last year.

Muhamad Wandy and wife went to Syria in January this year.

Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia have expressed increasing alarm as scores of the country’s citizens have either gone abroad to join the Isis jihad or been arrested for supporting the group or seeking to travel to Syria.

In January, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 67 Malaysians are known to have gone to Syria and Iraq and that five had been killed fighting for the cause.

Malaysia was holding 120 people with suspected Isis links or sympathies, including both men and women, said Zahid, who is in charge of domestic security.

Malaysia has traditionally observed a moderate brand of Islam and kept a lid on extremists.

But Isis' ability to lure Malaysian Muslims, along with thousands of others worldwide, to join its bloody jihad has rattled authorities and brought new attention on increasingly conservative Muslim views in Malaysia as its long-ruling government’s tight grip has eased somewhat over the years.

Malaysia plans to pass into law a  new anti-terrorism law at the next parliament meeting to counter a potential Isis-related security threat as fears grow that recruits may return home to spread militant Islam.

- TMI