Education ministry monitoring schools for extremist ideologies, says Fadhlina

 This follows the recent arrests of six people, aged between 16 and 21, for alleged involvement in militant activities.

Education minister Fadhlina Sidek said close cooperation with enforcement agencies was vital to protect students, teachers and the education system from radical influences.

PETALING JAYA:

 The education ministry is closely monitoring schools to prevent extremist ideologies, particularly militant and terrorist ones, from infiltrating educational institutions.

Education minister Fadhlina Sidek said close cooperation with enforcement agencies was vital to protect students, teachers and the education system from radical influences.

“We are monitoring students to ensure such elements do not enter our schools,” Bernama reported her as saying in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail recently said police arrested six people, aged between 16 and 21, last month for alleged involvement in Islamic State-related (IS) militant activities.

He said the arrests were made in a special operation carried out on Feb 14 and 15 across the Klang Valley as well as Johor, Kedah and Terengganu.

Khalid said the suspects were believed to have planned attacks on police stations and public infrastructure.

He said further investigations revealed that in addition to pledging allegiance to IS, the suspects possessed IS-related materials and actively promoted the terrorist organisation online, including on WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord and several other platforms. - FMT