HUMAN rights lawyer Latheefa Koya is questioning the deportation of five Egyptian members of the Muslim Brotherhood on suspicion of terrorism, when Malaysia has never deemed

the group a security risk.

Latheefa took the cops to task, asking why they were not charged in a Malaysian court if they are suspected of being terrorists.

“The Inspector General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun claims that they aided foreign terrorist elements in the country, and are thus suspected to have committed Offences under Part VIA of the Penal Code.”

“This is quite incomprehensible from both a legal and enforcement standpoint.

“If the Egyptians are believed to have committed such serious offences on Malaysian soil, why were they not charged in the Malaysian court?”  Latheefa asked.

“Surely offences committed in Malaysia must be tried in Malaysia, not Egypt.” 

Latheefa said Malaysia has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.

“The IGP has made serious allegations against them through a press statement without affording them an opportunity to answer.

“These remain unproven allegations supported by no evidence and they should have been given the opportunity to defend themselves in court. 

“Malaysia, on the other hand has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation and neither does it regard it so.

“It is, thus, unacceptable that the IGP relies on this to support the decision to deport them.

“The Muslim Brotherhood is a legitimate group carrying on a political struggle in Egypt, while being tyrannised by the military regime in Cairo.”

Earlier today, Fuzi said police have detained nine alleged terrorists, including several Muslim Brotherhood members from Egypt, in three recent operations in the Klang Valley and Sarawak last month.

Fuzi said police have also arrested two members of the Ansar Al-Shariah Al-Tunisia, a militant group linked to al-Qaeda.

“Based on our investigation, we found that these foreign terrorist fighters are using Malaysia as a safe haven, a transit point and their logistics base.

“They would use fake passports or they would marry Malaysians to get the ‘spouse visa’. Some would start a business here or to study.

“We are taking this matter seriously, moreover, after the defeat of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. All foreign suspects have been deported to their original country and have been blacklisted from entering Malaysia.

“As for the local suspects, they are being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and Section 574 of the Penal Code,” Fuzi said. – March 10, 2019.