Zahid says cops foiled Isis plot to kidnap Najib

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) says Isis wanted to kidnap Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, but the plan was foiled. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 8, 2016.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said the Isis militant group was planning to kidnap him as well as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

But the home minister said the police's anti-terrorism unit foiled the attempt, as well as plots to create chaos in Kedah, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

"Although there is no proper Daesh (Isis) establishment in the country, those who were here were being influenced and have been receiving orders from the network in Syria.

"We detected plans to attack several locations in Kedah, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, attempt to rob of firearms from army camps, making of explosions, robbing cash-in-transit vans as well as plot to kidnap the country's leaders for ransom," he said.

Zahid said Putrajaya took several measures to counter Isis, including sharing information with Asean counterparts on identifying terrorist suspects, among other forms of cooperation.

"Police have also done their part by monitoring and tracking these suspects and forwarded details to the Immigration Department to be blacklisted or blocked from entering the country.

"We are also going to implement the Advanced Passengers Screening System (APPS) for early detection of suspected foreign nationals coming into the country," he said.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), he added, was also roped in to monitor the militant group's propaganda on the social media.

He said this in a reply to Abdul Manan Ismail (BN-Paya Besar) who asked the Home Ministry to state the success of police in preventing terrorist attacks planned by Isis in the country.

He said the police and relevant authorities would increase security at “strategic” areas, including tourist spots, government offices and foreign embassies.

Out of 150 arrested for suspected terrorist activities, 56 were detained under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, 29 under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959, 10 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 and 49 under various criminal offences. The rest were deported.

In response to the suggestion by PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar for a defence committee to be set up to tackle Isis threst, Zahid said he could not decide on the matter but welcomed cooperation from all parties in the fight.

- TMI