POLICE have confirmed that some Malaysians, supported by the Islamic State militant group, are engaging in “jihad” to fight the Myanmar government for the oppressed Rohingya Muslim minority community in Rakhine State.

 Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division (E8) Assistant Director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the plight of the Rohingya had been used by IS to recruit new members..

He said spread of images of oppressed Rohingya on social media has evoked sympathy and helped IS lure new members.

“Moreover, we do have intelligence information on the possibility of Indonesians involved in militant activities in their country,” he told reporters after the launch of the “ISIS Threat to Youths Awareness Seminar” in Malacca today.

The event was officiated by Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron.

Ayob Khan said Myanmar’s proximity to Malaysia had lured would-be militants.

Myanmar is closer to Malaysia than Syria and the southern Philippines, where conflicts are ongoing. 

Although the recruiting of terrorists to Rakhine was still new, they were gathering information on the matter, including the detention of a 38-year-old man from Malacca on September 10, he said.

The suspect, a cendol seller, was nabbed on suspicion of actively promoting IS by printing and distributing the group’s flag as well as planning to join militants in the Philippines and Rakhine.

In a related development, Ayob Khan said the recruitment of new members was still ongoing despite the head of IS in Southeast Asia, Muhamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi, from Melaka, having been killed in a drone attack in Raqaa, Syria, at the end of April.

He said four Malaysians still in Syria were believed to be actively recruiting Malaysians, and were looking for an opportunity to launch an attack. – Bernama, September 17, 2017.