POLICE today warned against using racial issues as a basis to promote the Tamil Eelam Liberation Army (LTTE) movement.

Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-terrorism Division (E8) principal assistant director Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay said the LTTE was no different from terrorist groups such as Islamic State.

“What is the reason for reactivating it (LTTE)? Is the excuse because the Indians are suppressed in Malaysia? There’s no reason for it,” he said.

He warned Malaysians not to conflate issues of race with terrorism.

“Never associate terrorist groups with racial issues. The LTTE is just like Daesh and other terrorist groups,” he said, referring to Islamic State by its other name.

He said any attempt to revive the banned LTTE in the country would be severely dealt with.

“We will arrest anyone regardless if they are political leaders, if they are found to support international terrorists.”

Ayob said police had been surveilling LLTE-linked activities in Malaysia, in particular the  Heroes Day celebration that takes place every year.

“The investigation into the group began in detail in November last year (who have been) organising such events over the past few years,” he said.

He said the group was not only planning a comeback but it was also planning terrorist attacks.

“If action is not taken swiftly, Malaysia will be known as the place where LTTE was revived.”

In 2014 LTTE was banned as a terrorist group in Malaysia. Twenty-five people have been arrested for alleged involvement with the LTTE since.

In the latest swoop, police today arrested two DAP politicians and five others in several states. – October 10, 2019.