Malaysian police arrested 36 Bangladeshi nationals in a raid this week, according to the Straits Times and other Malaysian media outlets.
Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Friday said the detainees were found to be directly involved in a “radical militant movement” based on extremist beliefs and terrorism ideology.
The minister stated that the security operations had started from April 24 in three phases in Selangor and Johor regions.
Of the detainees, five people have been charged under the offences relating to terrorism of the Penal Code’s (Chapter VIA) in the Shah Alam and Johor Baru Sessions Courts.
He said deportation orders have been issued against 15 people and investigations are still underway against 16 others over their involvement in the militant movement.
Saifuddin Ismail said the Special Branch team’s intelligence and coordinated action revealed that this group brought in extremist beliefs based on the Islamic State (IS) ideology into the country and had formed recruitment cells within the Bangladeshi community there.
These cells were set up to indoctrinate radical beliefs, raise funds for terrorist activities, and to ultimately overthrow the legitimate government in their home country, he said.
Saifuddin stressed that Malaysia will not become a place for any foreign extremist movements.
“We will work closely with local and international security agencies to ensure that Malaysia remains peaceful, stable and free from terrorist threats. Any attempt to use this country as an operational base or transit point for any terrorist organisation will be met with strong, swift and effective action,” he said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Islam told Times last night that they came to learn about the arrest from media reports. “We will ask the Malaysian authorities through our home and foreign offices for details about the arrests of Bangladeshi nationals and take measures accordingly.”