KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 — The Daesh militant group is not linked to recent cases of firearm smuggling, shooting and kidnapping, says the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.
This was because unlike Daesh members, common criminals did not have a particular ideology and propaganda to spread to the public, said Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division principal assistant director, Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
“So far, there are no links and intelligence information that can verify these people (Daesh members) have been working hand-in-glove with common criminals,” he told Bernama recently.
He also said the police did not rule out the possibility that Daesh members could easily obtain firearms, just like the common criminals.
“If they (Daesh members) meet with those criminals, they will also have the same access to ‘middlemen’ to get things they need (firearms and explosives).
“This is what we are worried about. If there is an element of Daesh (members) seeking help from the common criminals to obtain firearms and explosives, chances are these firearms will fall into the hands of Daesh members and they will attack,” he said.
For that, Ayob Khan said the police would always take preventive measures and monitor the situation from time to time to thwart such an incident.
Meanwhile, Institute of Islamic Strategic Research Malaysia (IKSIM) senior fellow Engku Ahmad Fadzil Engku Ali said the authorities should have sufficient information concerning firearm smuggling and shooting cases in the country before linking such incidents to Daesh militant activities. — Bernama
