After Ulu Tiram attack, groups in solidarity with police against 'terrorism'

Two civil society organisations have urged authorities to take sterner actions in eight cases this year preceding an attack on the Ulu Tiram police station, as a clear signal of zero tolerance for violence.

In a statement, Projek Sama and Engage said the groups stand in solidarity with the police to fight terrorism, after two officers were killed by a lone attacker in Friday’s pre-dawn incident.

“In honour of the late Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said and Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, we must make Malaysia safe from terrorism with unwavering determination.

“Both the authorities and society at large must make clear that there is zero tolerance for violence,” said the groups.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain initially said the suspect shot dead on site was suspected to be a member of the banned Jemaah Islamiyah terror organisation.

Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar (left) and Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said

However, Razarudin later clarified that the 21-year-old was not linked to any group, and initial suspicions were based on his father’s status as a JI member.

“Projek Sama and Engage are concerned that the use or threat of violence would gradually be normalised due to the perceived absence of consequences on perpetrators by the authorities," said the groups.

The groups pointed out that in the first five months of this year, there were eight reported cases of concern - five Molotov cocktail attacks, and three assaults on national footballers.

‘Clear and strong message’

The groups said perpetrators of the Molotov cocktail attack should be investigated and charged under Section 130B of the Penal Code for committing an act of terrorism, which carries a jail term of seven to 30 years for non-fatal cases under Section 130C.

“This is instead of the less serious sounding Section 435’s ‘mischief by fire’ which carries only a maximum jail term of 14 years.

“To use Section 130B is not to cause unnecessary alarms but instead to send a clear and strong message that Malaysia will be safe from terrorism because it would not be tolerated in any pretext,” they stressed.

The five Molotov cocktail attacks started with January’s incident to the home of Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham, several KK Mart outlets, and a pub in Kuala Lumpur.

Further, the groups noted the Penal Code provision defines terrorism not by political motivation, but as an action that causes - serious bodily injury to a person; endangerment to a person’s life; a person’s death; a serious risk to the health or the safety of the public or a section of the public; serious damage to property; and the use of firearms, explosives or other lethal devices.

Additionally, the two groups also call on the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Security chaired by Ranau MP Jonathan Yassin to conduct hearings on reported attacks against three national footballers, so that the public can be assured police will receive needed support to nip terrorism in the bud. - Mkini