JOHOR BARU: The government has reassured the people that police continually conduct surveillance on former organised or militant group members who were previously detained and released.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said this was part of Malaysia's rehabilitation of suspects in these cases, and this has been done in even for past cases.
Saifuddin said those previously involved in militant activities were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and were continuously monitored even after their release.
"We have approaches in place to keep track of them. So, please stop making speculations and exaggerations," he told a press conference here today.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain and Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar also attended the press conference.
Two policemen were killed, and another injured, after a masked intruder stormed the Ulu Tiram police station near Johor Baru at about 3am yesterday.
The dead were Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar, 22, and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said, 24. The third policeman Corporal Mohd Hasif Roslan was injured.
Police had said the three policemen were believed to have been slashed by the suspect, who was masked and dressed in dark clothing and armed with a parang.
The attacker was shot dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin assured the public that police have experience in counter-terrorism backed up by the police force's database that has been maintained for more than a couple of centuries.
"Police are committed to their rehabilitation process to prevent threats to the people.
"I want to assure the public that the police have the experience to handle any incidents or targeted attacks based on comprehensive database profiles and attack patterns.
"The police database has been maintained for 217 years. It is sufficient for us to manage such incidents," he said.
He added that the police's proactive measures and extensive experience in managing former militants was proof that public safety was their main priority.
"Please trust the police's capabilities and do not engage in unwarranted speculation regarding militant threats."
He said the government does not intend to expand investigations into the Ulu Tiram police station attack to include international militant networks.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reassured that there will be ongoing surveillance on former organised or militant group members who were previously detained and released.
"The attack on the Ulu Tiram police station was carried out by a lone suspect.
"Don't go beyond that point – there were militant threats including from Jemaah Islamiyah," he said today.
In the same press conference, the minister had said that suspect behind the attack on the Ulu Tiram police station which killed two policemen early yesterday was a "lone wolf" and is not linked to any group.
He had said a 21-year-old Malaysian, acted on his motivations
He had also said that the police believed the suspect acted on his own and that he disassociated himself from the public. The suspect was known to be a quiet person who rarely interacted with villagers.