A son of Jemaah Islamiyah founder Abu Bakar Bashir has claimed that the senior cleric no longer has any ties with Madrasah Luqmanul Hakim in Ulu Tiram, Johor, ever since his return to Indonesia 25 years ago.
When contacted, Abdul Rahim Bashir said his father also has no communication with family members of the 21-year-old assailant shot dead in last Friday’s pre-dawn attack on the Ulu Tiram police station
“We don’t know them. Maybe when Ustaz Abu Bakar was there (in Malaysia), they (suspect’s family) went to ‘mengaji’ (learn) from him, but he won’t know every single one of them,” Abdul Rahim, 47, told Malaysiakini.
“I heard my father’s name was mentioned again there (in Malaysia) and he was perceived as being responsible for this situation (attack).
"The way I see it, how can that be? Malaysian police to my knowledge have said the action was that of an individual,” he said.
Fresh questions were raised over the existence of Jemaah Islamiyah in Malaysia following Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain’s initial statement after the suspect killed two police officers and injured another officer, before he was shot dead.
Razarudin had initially linked the suspect to the banned terror organisation, but subsequently clarified it was an individual act and the alleged links to JI were from his father’s status as a member.
Asia’s most wanted terrorist
Meanwhile, Berita Harian reported today that the Johor state government is considering demolishing the remains of Madrasah Luqmanul Hakim - built on private land near the suspect’s family home - abandoned ever since it was shut down in 2001.
The Malay daily quoted Johor Islamic Affairs exco Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid as saying that the Johor Islamic Religious Council and police are considering the demolition, citing safety concerns based on public complaints following the attack.
Alumni of the sekolah pondok include Asia’s most wanted terrorist Noordin Mohd Top - born in Kluang, Johor - who died in an ambush by Indonesian authorities on Sept 17, 2009, for his role behind various bombings across Indonesia in the early 2000s.
“Ever since Ustaz Abu Bakar returned (to Indonesia), he no longer has any business there (in Malaysia),” claimed Abdul Rahim.
UN Security watchlist
Abdul Rahim, whose name has been listed on a United Nations Security watchlist since 2011 for suspected ties to Al-Qaeda, further claimed that his father was never involved in founding the sekolah pondok or its management.
“He was only someone viewed as an ustaz, a role model.
“But he was never part of the management or founder. You can check that with any registration documents,” said Abdul Rahim.
Abu Bakar, who lived in exile in Malaysia to escape President Soeharto’s regime, returned to Indonesia after the Reformasi era and established the Indonesian Mujahedin Council which aimed to implement Islamic law in Indonesia.
In 2021, he obtained compassionate release after serving 10 years from a 15-year sentence for organising paramilitary training for militants in Acheh. - Mkini
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