NORMAH Ishak has been appointed Malaysia’s first female counterterrorism chief, taking over from Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as principal assistant director of the Special Branch’s Counter Terrorism Division, the South China Morning Post reports.

The report quoted Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador as saying that the appointment was made as Normah is a “gutsy, brainy, highly qualified and an experienced officer of very high integrity and an excellent commander”.

Normah joined the Royal Malaysian Police in December 1991 and has been Ayob Khan’s deputy since 2016. 

Ayob Khan was promoted to Johor police chief.

Among challenges she will face is dealing with the return of Islamic State militants and their families to Malaysia from Syria, as well as squashing Abu Sayyaf-linked terror cells in Sabah. – February 14, 2020.