KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — A one-year-old infant was found among Malaysian members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group that numbered 154 as of May 7, the Home Ministry has said.
The Home Ministry said in a parliamentary reply to Tanah Merah MP Datuk Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz yesterday that out of the 154 Malaysians involved with the terror group, 91 have been arrested in Malaysia, while 45 people were still at conflict areas and 11 were killed.
“The individuals involved with the IS militant group comprise various age groups, from one year old to 60 years old,” the Home Ministry said.
“This situation is very worrying to the government as it involves children. Hence, the government’s move in tabling the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2015 is very apt,” the ministry added.
Opposition lawmakers have criticised POTA, which has been passed by Parliament and is now awaiting royal assent, as it allows for detention without trial.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin told Parliament during Question Time that Asean recently renewed its commitment at the Asean summit last month to face the threat of radicalism and violence through the Global Movement of Moderates.
“At the discussion, Asean leaders expressed the importance of moderation in tackling extremism and radicalism,” Hamzah said.
“During the meeting of defence ministers in Asean last March, the majority of Asean member states supported the formation of a special transboundary unit, where the Asean peacekeeping force is to combat extremists, especially the IS,” he added.
