Malaysian Troops ‘Under Watch’ for any ISIS Links

The Straits Times

07 December 2014

Malaysia’s armed forces are under police watch after several soldiers were found to be sympathisers of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Two of the soldiers were arrested late last month over links to the militant group.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told The Sunday Times he was “fully aware of the situation” when asked via a Twitter message about a report on the case that cited intelligence sources, but he offered no further comment.

…But Assoc Prof Kumar Ramakrishna, head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies said the issue needs close monitoring as ISIS is adept at exploiting social media to radicalise young people, including possibly those in the military.

A radicalised military person, for example, may turn on fellow soldiers, or could act as a trainer for new recruits, he said.

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