MALAYSIA is taking a soft approach in rehabilitating militants by involving Islamic religious leaders to run de-radicalisation programmes, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

Zahid said the de-radicalisation module that the Home Ministry used in collaboration with the police and the Prisons Department, together with ulama and psychologists, had succeeded in rehabilitating 97.5% of militants from 2001 to 2012.

“I am pleased to announce that out of the 289 militants who participated in the module from 2001 to 2012, we have a 97% success rate, out of which 282 individuals were removed from terrorism activities,” he said during the Third Counter Terrorism Financing Summit at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara today. 

Zahid said the programme was conducted by 35 experts comprising ulama, psychologists, medical officers and other experts to help militants assimilate back into society.

He said the module was from a manual published by the Home Ministry, which wasbased on the country’s experience in facing threats, including communists and militants, before independence.

“We have provided manuals in Malay, French and Arabic, not only for our country but also other countries. We use the procedures based on our experience during the 1948 communist emergency, events such as the Al Maunah arms heist, as well as with radical groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah. 

“When someone (militant) goes through the process, he will learn about aqidah (faith). And to restore his beliefs, we will also get the help of their family members.”

Malaysia’s re-radicalisation programme has come under the spotlight recently when  Zahid defended controversial preacher Zamihan Mat Zin’s role in running the programme.

Zahid had said Zamihan was an important asset and an expert in the rehabilitation of militant suspects.

Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Dr H Wiranto commended the Home Ministry’s rehabilitation programme. 

He said he wanted to use the module as a base for his own country’s programme.

“We see how this soft approach taken by Malaysia can pull back those who are brainwashed,” he said. – November 22, 2017.