Ministry has grounds to keep LTTE on terror list, says Muhyiddin

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Feb 2020 4:28PM · 5 Comments

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin says it has grounds to keep the LTTE on its terror list based on intelligence information and security considerations. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 22, 2020.

THE Home Ministry can continue listing inactive terrorist groups in its terrorism gazette based on intelligence findings, its minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, said today.

He was responding to the decision by the attorney-general yesterday to discontinue criminal proceedings against 12 Malaysian men charged with allegedly supporting the now defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“(The law) does not state that only entities that are still active should be listed (in the terrorism gazette),” Muhyiddin said in a statement today.

“An entity is listed based on intelligence information and security considerations, which are based on credible information from the police.

“Based on the information received, the Home Ministry has strong basis to maintain the LTTE on the list as a terror group.

“This group is still holding on to an ideology that can cause harm to public safety and national security. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the authorities to take action according to the law to curb any attempts to spread such ideology and activities associated with this group.” 

Muhyiddin added that Malaysia is not the only country that still recognises the LTTE, which laid down arms and became defunct in 2009, as a terrorist group.

“The other countries are India, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.”

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, in announcing the move to discontinue proceedings against the 12 men yesterday, said he was using his office’s constitutional powers to make the decision, as “there is no realistic prospect of conviction for any of the 12 accused on any of the 34 charges”.

He underscored the fact that the LTTE had been defunct since 2009 and that the home minister should be reviewing the terrorism gazette every six months, as provided by law.

Muhyiddin today said the terrorism gazette listing “Specified Entities” is drawn up under Section 66B (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Section 66B (9) states that the Home Ministry can review the list and decide whether to remove or retain an entity based on findings provided by other agencies.

Thomas’ view, however, is that an order declaring an entity as a terrorist group “is not meant to be permanent or enduring”.

“Parliament recognises that over time, a group that uses violence to achieve its purposes may change or adapt by eschewing violence and accepting peaceful methods of change. History is replete with such examples,” Thomas said yesterday. – February 22, 2020.

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Comments

  • There is no credible basis for the LTTE to be designated as a terror group.
    The key word is credible.
    But there is more than credible evidence that HAMAS, which is allowed to operate freely in Malaysia is a terrorist organisation that is active and poses a threat to life and limb.
    Why does the Home Minister allow them to operate with impunity?

    It's high time that Muhyiddin, who has less than credible abilities as a Home Minister, resign and let someone with real credibility take over.

    Posted 4 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Muhyiddin, just remove it from the list. You are being perceived as a racist. As a Minister, you have the perogative to review and degazette LTTE without the so called advice of the deep state actors in the PDRM and Home Ministry. Furthermore how can the defunct LTTE which have ceased to exist in Sri Lanka be considered as a threat to Malaysia's security?

    Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • I am a Malay first then a Malaysian. Who was the infamous DPM who quote this in 2016 ?

    Posted 4 years ago by S L · Reply

  • Muhyiddin OUT. Cannot come clean on the missing Pastors . Cannot find the Indiras ex-husband. Can only arrest imaginary threats .

    Posted 4 years ago by Kinetica Cho · Reply

  • Celaka

    Posted 4 years ago by Astann astann · Reply