On Reflection | Malaysia’s terrorism threat must be addressed at community level to prevent resurgence of groups such as Islamic State

Present and future governments will have to tackle marginalisation and build bonds in society

This is the fifth of a series of essays by well-known Malaysians to be published in the run-up to May 9, the anniversary of the country’s first change of government.

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Forensic personnel inspect the site of a grenade attack at a bar and restaurant in Puchong, outside Kuala Lumpur, in 2016. Photo: AP

Published: 4:30pm, 8 May 2019Updated: 12:08pm, 15 May 2019

The concept of “New Malaysia” is rife with sentiments of change. But since the Pakatan Harapan coalition won the country’s general election on May 9 last year, taking power from a party in place for 60 years, one problem has remained unchanged – the threat of terrorism.

The new government took the helm amid a terrorism landscape shaped by a militarily weakened Islamic State in Syria and the southern Philippines. A five-month conflict between jihadist groups and government forces at Marawi in 2017 began as a raid on an IS-affiliated gang by the Philippine military but gave birth to a Southeast Asian caliphate. More than 30 Malaysians travelled to the city during the conflict. In comparison, 102 went to Syria over the five years between 2013 and 2018, and 54 remain there.

In the months after May 9, arrests related to terrorism persisted in Malaysia. The Royal Malaysian Police said more than 80 people were apprehended between May 2018 and May this year. Not all were Malaysians – some were foreigners or had ties with overseas militant groups.

A five-month conflict between jihadist groups and government forces at Marawi in the southern Philippines in 2017 gave birth to a Southeast Asian caliphate. Photo: The Washington Post

These numbers are indicative of several issues facing Malaysia’s authorities and agencies. The first is the existence of militant networks in the region spanning to western Asia. The fighters take advantage of visa-free access to Malaysia as well as Sabah’s porous borders, elevating the country to a transit point of choice.

The second issue is that sustained interest in IS’ cause and other similar ones remains a threat to Malaysia. Among the pull factors to militancy is the desire to establish and defend a caliphate. Such radicalisation is often spawned at home.

On Reflection | Malaysia’s terrorism threat must be addressed at community level to prevent resurgence of groups such as Islamic State

Present and future governments will have to tackle marginalisation and build bonds in society This is the fifth of a series of essays by well-known Malaysians to be published in the run-up to May 9, the anniversary of the country’s first change of government.

Present and future governments will have to tackle marginalisation and build bonds in society

This is the fifth of a series of essays by well-known Malaysians to be published in the run-up to May 9, the anniversary of the country’s first change of government.