SHAH ALAM, Oct 21 — Dictatorships and attacks on pro-democratic Muslim groups around the world have legitimised movements such as the Islamic State (IS), a forum on the matter was told today.

Political analyst Dr Maszlee Malik, one of the panellists at the Sinar Harian forum titled “Islamic State-jihadists or militants?”, said that the rise of IS is symptomatic of a larger problem which has yet to be addressed by today’s governments.

“The real problem is dictatorship regimes in Muslim countries, failed states... and the war on pro-democracy Muslim moderates,” he said during the forum which was attended by 300-odd participants here.

Another problem, added Maszlee, was the double standards practised by Western media and superpowers in highlighting conflicts that served their own political and economic interests.

“Only proper democracy can calm the rise of militants in Muslim countries... (right now) even if IS were destroyed, there will be other groups, and what will happen is that Islam’s image will be tarnished even further,” said the International Islamic University (UIA) lecturer.

Another panellist, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, argued for the need for more online intelligence to weed out potential IS recruiters.

With the Internal Security Act (ISA) abolished, the ex-IGP claimed that there were too many legalities involved and the police needed more proof before they could make any arrests.

“Now it is hard to take action before firm evidence is obtained... without the ISA, we have to find proof, and for that witnesses have to come forward,” he said.

“I am not saying the ISA should be reinstated but perhaps (laws) with a similar scope,” Musa said.

To date, 22 Malaysians, including three women, are involved with militant groups in Syria, while 23 others had been detained in Malaysia for alleged links with militant activities.

Putrajaya has previously designated the IS, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, as a terrorist group.