Home terrorists more dangerous than those who fought in Syria - police

Terrorists who stay in their home countries are more dangerous than those travelling to Syria to fight for the Islamic State (IS). 

Bukit Aman Counter-Terrorism Division principal assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay Ayob (above) said this when asked how would the cops monitor the 40 Malaysians seeking to return home after being detained for suspected involvement in terrorist activities in Syria. 

He pointed to the terrorist attacks in Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as the arrest of 16 members of an IS cell planning to launch an attack in Malaysia and Indonesia but were detained in Keningau, Sabah last month.

According to Ayob, the terrorists who wanted to join the jihad (holy war) in Syria but failed to go there chose to carry out their plans regionally.

"So, those who are not able to go to Syria are more dangerous, right?"

He said the police have the ability to monitor the 40 Malaysians who were detained in Syria when they return.

"Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), we have the ability. We have many (rehabilitation) programmes for them."

While admitting that the programmes may not be perfect, he said the police managed to rehabilitate 97 percent of 289 Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) suspects detained from 2001 to 2012.

Ayob explained that the families of the Malaysians detained in Syria contacted the police and expressed their wishes to bring them back home.

"It is not up to the police to decide, but the government. It is not that we are bringing them back, not yet," he said.

As of October 2018, Ayob said only one woman and one child were brought back.

He stressed that the 11 men in the group of 40 are expected to be charged when they return, while the decision to charge the women will depend on their involvement in Syria.

Ayob said the children will have to undergo counselling.

He added that the country has an obligation on its citizens despite the crime being committed abroad.  - Mkini