MUAR, June 27 — Jihad involving Malaysians in foreign lands must not be taken lightly but continuously monitored by the authorities to prevent the militant activities from spreading to this country, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said such activities were worrying as those involved were regarded as extremists although their original intention might be jihad fisabilillah (struggle for the sake of Allah).

“They are given military training by armed groups, so this is something we must monitor although it happens outside our country, for their militancy could spread when they return home.

“If not monitored, such groups could cause problems as they are linked to terrorism and so on,” he said to reporters at Kompleks Seri Pekembar in Pagoh here today.

Muhyiddin was commenting on worrying jihad activities in certain foreign countries involving Malaysians.

He said as a democratic country, Malaysia did not want any activities that could create chaos.

“Although the incidents happen in countries like Syria, or anywhere else, we cannot take it lightly, and indeed the government has been monitoring the situation through our relations with other authorities at the international level.

“We have received a report from the Home Ministry through Interpol on the real situation but we have not yet established it in detail,” he said.

Two days ago, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police had identified some of the 15 individuals killed in the violence and jihad in Syria in the middle of this month.

However, he said, police were still investigating in order to obtain accurate details before disclosing whether the 15 individuals were Malaysians or not.

A recent local newspaper report revealed attempts to recruit people as jihadists through the social media which also involved Malaysians.

Earlier, Muhyiddin handed over contributions to mosques and surau in conjunction with Ramadan as well as awards for excellence in the PMR/SPM/STPM/Special Class examinations to students in the Pagoh parliamentary constituency.

Before that, he opened the Karnival Rakyat in Kampung Sungai Meda, Bukit Kepong, where he handed the prize to the top winner in the Pagoh Small and Medium Industry (SMI) Competition, Aini Ayub from Multiniaga Frozen Food Sdn Bhd.

Muhyiddin also handed out aid under the Johor Rakan Usahawan Programme and Pagoh Small and Medium Industry certificates of appreciation to the recipients, and the lucky draw first prize of a Modenas 110 motorcycle which was won by Mohd Syamel Kamarudin from Kampung Sawah Laku.

The carnival includes an SMI exhibition with 24 participants and a motorcross race. — Bernama