SEVEN people, including a Malacca DAP executive officer and a Negri Sembilan assemblyman, were arrested today for attempting to revive the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said Bukit Aman today.

One of them is also accused of planning with another person who is still at large to attack the Sri Lankan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

Federal police counter-terrorism division chief Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchai said the seven men were arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Perak and Kedah, between 9am and 2pm today.

Police have also seized items used to promote the activities of LTTE, which had fought for a separate state in Sri Lanka.

 “They have plans to revive the movement. They have also promoted the activities of LTTE,” Ayub said of the seven detainees, in a press conference in Bukit Aman.

“The two elected reps were arrested for giving speeches during an LTTE Heroes Day in Malacca on November 28 last year. They were also involved in activities to promote the movement.”

He added that two of the seven detainees had been charged with assaulting the Sri Lankan ambassador at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in September 2016.

It was reported earlier today that Malacca exco member, Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan and Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran were detained this morning at their office.

Malacca Chief Minister Adly Zahari told Astro Awani that Saminathan was detained over his speeches at an event in support of the separatist group that had caused three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka before it was defeated.

Nearly 100,000 people were killed in the conflict that ended when the LTTE was defeated by the army in 2009.

Over the years, Malaysian police have arrested several individuals for supporting the LTTE, which had been declared an illegal organisation in Malaysia.

‘No one will be spared’ 

Ayub warned that the police would arrest anyone connected to the banned movement, even if they held senior political positions.

He said this when asked if a certain leader in Penang would also be arrested for having LTTE connections.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy is known to be a supporter of the LTTE cause.

“We will arrest anyone, including political leaders, if they are found to be supporting terrorist groups,” Ayub said.

On the level of local support for the separatist movement, Ayub said the LTTE Heroes Day was celebrated in Malaysia every year, with the supporters trying to revive the movement.

“Our investigations on this group started last November but they have been observing the Heroes Day (celebrations) for several years now.

“They have plans not just to revive the LTTE but also to launch attacks.

“If we don’t take action against this group, they will spread and Malaysia will be labelled as the centre of the revived LTTE,” he said.

“LTTE has been declared a terrorist group since February 2014, and so far we have arrested 25 suspects connected to the group,” he said.

Ayub also questioned the need for the group to revive LTTE.

“What is the purpose of reviving LTTE here? It has been defeated in Sri Lanka. Is it to give the excuse that the Indians here are being ill-treated?

“Don’t equate the terrorist groups with racial issues. For me the LTTE is the same as Daesh or any other terrorist movement,” he said, referring to Islamic State by its other name.

He added that several men were arrested by European authorities two days ago for seeking funding for LTTE. – October 10, 2019.