KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 ― Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will table a white paper in Parliament tomorrow, outlying the “real threat” terrorist groups pose on Malaysia amid rising concerns of homegrown militancy, a local daily reported today. 

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told The Star that the white paper will explain how international terror organisations such as the Islamic State (IS) have tried to infiltrate local political parties and use social media to shore up funds.

The official document is also expected to cover proposed measures to combat and prevent terrorism, which includes possibly amending existing laws or drafting new anti-terror legislation, he said.

“We will either strengthen the seven existing laws by amending the clauses or propose a new Anti-Terrorism Act as a preventive measure,” Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying by the paper.

“If introduced,  the new Act will complement Sosma and PCA,” he added, referring to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Act 2013.

Ahmad Zahid also stressed that the country is facing a “whole new level of threat” from Malaysian militants who are connected with their foreign counterparts, enabling groups like IS to spread their ideology which manipulates Islamic teachings to justify their goals of using force to establish their version of an Islamic state.

Around 100 Malaysians have already been identified by the police as being involved in extremist activities ― a figure that could increase if preventive measures are not taken, he said.

Ahmad Zahid urged MPs from both sides of the divide to debate the white paper “sincerely” and stand united in the interest of national security.

“The important thing is for us to work together... it is about the security of the country,” he said.

This will be the third time in the country's history that a white paper will be tabled. White papers were previously tabled by the government on the Al-Mau'nah military weapons heist and hostage crisis in 2000, and on the 1985 Memali Incident when 14 civilians and four police officers were killed in a deadly crackdown on an alleged extremist religious group.