What terrorists forget is the dialogue will be followed by action and close cooperation among countries, officials and experts, says conference official.
PETALING JAYA: The recent Islamic State (IS) propaganda video, featuring executions by Southeast Asian militants, could be an attempt to “preempt” an upcoming international conference on counter-terrorism in Malaysia, an official said.
The video, which featured Malaysian Muhammad Aqif Heusen Rahizat, Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, of Singapore and a yet-to-be-identified militant, emerged exactly a week before the Putrajaya International Security Dialogue (PISD) that starts officially today.
Themed “Wisdom and Moderation in Combating Terrorism”, the dialogue is being organised by the home ministry in collaboration with Rabitah Al-Alami Al-Islami (World Muslim League), a non-governmental organisation based in Saudi Arabia.
The official, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the video might well have been such an attempt.
“Definitely, the terrorists were trying to garner support from citizens in the region through the video,” the official told FMT.
“What the conference, which will be widely covered by the media, will delve into is the antithesis to the violent extremist ideology that the militants hold.
“The panellists and speakers will be going into the theories of violent extremism prevention but the militants, on the other hand, have actually shot dead prisoners.
“I think, to them, actions speak louder than words and they think their action-based propaganda will be more appealing to the masses.
“But they should know that the dialogue would be followed by action and close cooperation among the countries, officials and experts taking part in the event to counter their ideology.”
Ministers and deputy ministers from 20 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Australia, Britain, France and Indonesia, are expected to present their respective country statements at the dialogue.
The conference will also discuss Islam as an instrument of moderation and security as well as various aspects of extreme violence prevention efforts, the very opposite to the ideology of the terror group.
About 1,000 local and foreign participants are expected to attend the dialogue.
They include senior officials from the diplomatic missions in Kuala Lumpur, representatives of NGOs, academicians, senior government officials and students from higher education institutions.
“The dialogue is aimed at promoting Malaysia as a modern and progressive country at the forefront in combating terrorism and extremism.
“The discussions and resolutions are expected to be the thrust for cooperation at the next level in combating terrorism through the concept of moderation and non-violence,” a statement from the home ministry said. -FMT
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