KUALA LUMPUR: The United States’ decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would change the landscape of violence across the globe.
Federal police's Counter-Terrorism Division assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay in an interview on TV3’s Soal Jawab programme said the current situation may trigger more Muslims to join terrorist militant groups.
“Maybe there are those who will vent out their emotions through demonstrations, but for those who are jihadis they will probably join militant groups in Palestine.
“Intelligence revealed that there are people from Asean countries who has already joined the militant movement in Palestine.
“No doubt, if the issue is not resolved, more will turn to militant groups,” he said on Wednesday night.
Citing recent New York transit hub bombing incident as example, Ayob said more terror attacks might follow suit.
“They are waiting for the right timing to launch the attack, including in Malaysia,” he added.
On a separate matter, when asked what are the impact of the oppression of Rohingya people brought to the region, Ayob said it was common for terrorist organisations to take it as a chance for recruitment.
“During Ambon Christian-Muslim clash in the 1990s, Jemaah Islamiyah had exploited the situation and took advantage of it.
“There are signs of sympathisers attempting to join Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa). We have arrested two, a Malaysian and an Indonesian this year.
“If this atrocity do not stop, more may join Arsa and we have a large number of Rohingya refugees in the country.
“The Rohingya community maybe influenced and launch attacks here but the police are monitoring closely the situation as we want to prevent any eventualities,” he said.
Previously known by other names including Harakah al-Yaqin, Arsa operates in Rakhine state in northern Myanmar, where the mostly-Muslim Rohingya people have faced persecution.
Arsa have reportedly took a stand to "defend, salvage and protect" the Rohingya against state repression "in line with the principle of self-defence".