KUALA LUMPUR: The arrival of refugees from Iraq and Syria following the offensive in the Islamic State stronghold Mosul and Raqqa in Iraq has become a new threat for Malaysia, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
The issue has become the ministry's main concern, he said, as Sulu waters could be seen as a potential area for refugees from Iraq and Syria to form a Islamic militant zone.
"It is possible that some of them would want to either to repatriate or establish a new Kawasan Islamiyyah (Islamic militant zone) in our region," he told reporters after a preparatory meeting for the Ummah Agenda Empowerment Convention today.
Hishammuddin said that the issue would be highlighted during his meetings with other leaders in the region such as the Philippines Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.
"I will meet with Secretary Delfin in conjunction with their president Rodrigo Duterte's visit and Thai Defence Minister during a joint border committee meeting," he said.
He added that he was to meet with the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) leadership today to receive the latest report on the situation in Iraq and Syria.
On the efficiency of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in tackling kidnapping cases, Hishammuddin said inter-agency collaboration was important but the focus of the ministry and Armed Forces would remain on bigger menaces.
"If we feel there were obstacles in Esscom and other agencies under the Command, we have to strengthen (our efforts). We are always, at any time, willing to work closely with other agencies but our core business is not that as we are facing a larger threat when it comes to national security," he said.