KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 ― Wisma Putra is in the process of forming a digital communication centre as part of efforts to curb the Islamic State's (IS) influence online, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has said.
Utusan Malaysia quoted the foreign affairs minister as saying that the government was aware of IS's ability to exploit social media platforms to look for new recruits as well as to spread their extremist views.
“With these efforts (the digital communication centre), Malaysia hopes to build a mental firewall for society, be it on a national or regional level so that no one is easily influenced by the IS propaganda and any other militant groups,” Anifah was quoted saying.
He said the advent of the Internet brought about new threats, and that attacks by terrorists no longer needed to be carried out in big groups.
Police last week arrested four suspected IS militants including one who was allegedly on his way to execute a suicide bombing attack.
“This also brings about a new threat or phenomenon called 'lone wolf radicalisation' whereby an individual is capable of becoming involved in an terror attack without the need to establish any contact or relationships with any terrorist groups,” the minister added.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor reportedly said over the weekend that Bangsar, Solaris and Bukit Bintang are among the locations actively targeted by terrorist groups aiming to spread fear in Malaysia.
The federal territories minister said the authorities are aware of and preparing for the threats, adding that his ministry’s enforcers were lending their resources to the police in efforts to improve security.
His statement was later rebutted by the police, who had also declared that security matters are under control, though still being kept on red alert status.
Malaysian police were put on red alert following the bombings in Jakarta last week that involved at least seven blasts and left seven people dead.
The Jakarta blasts followed a suicide bombing in Istanbul, Turkey that killed 10 people, all of whom were Germans, which officials reportedly blamed on the IS.
