KUALA LUMPUR: THREE people were detained on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities following operations conducted by federal police Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division here and in Kedah on Thursday and Friday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said one of the three, aged 36, had joined Islamic State (IS) and had been in Syria since Dec 28. The suspect returned to Malaysia on April 8.
“The other two suspects were believed to have been channelling funds for Malaysians who wished to go to Syria and join IS,” he said in a statement, adding that the duo were civil servants aged 23 and 28.
Khalid said the suspects were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Police are still looking for five men for their suspected militant-linked activities in the Philippines.
They are former Universiti Malaya lecturer Dr Mahmud Ahmad (also known as Abu Handzalah), stationery shop owner Mohd Najib Husen, 36, former Selayang Municipal Council employee Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 39, and Darul Islam Sabah members Mohd Amin Baco, 31, and Jeknal Adil, 30.
Mahmud, Najib and Joraimee were involved in recruiting Malaysians to join IS in Syria, while the two others had joined terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in southern Philippines.
Twelve people had been charged with trying to join, or providing support to, IS.
On Nov 21, painter Mohamad Fauzee Ahmad, 46, who returned from Syria, was charged at the Sepang Sessions Court with supporting IS by entering Syria to provide support to terror activities.
On Nov 11, bakery shop worker Mohammad Na’im Abd Rahid, 26, nursery operators Amir Azlan Zainudin, 48, and his wife, Nazhatulshima Sahak, 44, restaurant workers Muhammad Nai’eem Apandi and Muhammad Fadhil Ibrahim, both 24, financial consultant Rohaimi Abd Rahim, 37, and car salesman Muhamad Fauzi Misrak, 34, were charged at the Sepang Sessions Court and Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam magistrate’s court with providing and attempting to provide support to IS by buying and boarding Istanbul-bound flights to enter Syria.
On Oct 24 and 31, architect Mohd Syafrein Rasid, technician Mohamad Yusoffe Ishak, both 26, trader Mohd Rosmadi Che Daud, 42, and an assistant credit controller were charged with a similar offence in Sepang.
The cases were transferred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to be heard.
There are 39 Malaysians who have been identified as being involved with IS.