The Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) recently advised its crew and staff to avoid crowded touristic areas and Western embassies, and stay away from public transport such as buses and train stations, claiming that the advisory was issued based on information received from Malay authorities who said to have received credible information about intentions of executing terror attacks by Islamic State (IS) militants in Malaysia.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar asked the people to ignore the advisory while Bukit Aman s counter-terrorism division senior official Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay denied the content of the advisory even though it is still in the investigation period.

There is no smoke without fire. Since the KLM spokesperson said that they had confirmed with Malaysian authorities before issuing the advisory, the police should then at least make clear which units are the “Malay authorities” that were referring by the KLM and investigate whether the information is true before trying to convince the public not to worry. Simply asking the people to ignore it and deny the possibility of it cannot help eliminate the people’s worry.

…International terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna said that the IS is expanding its influence in Southeast Asia countries, recruiting many people from Asean countries, including Malaysians. It is presumed that about a hundred of “jihad recruiters” have been lurking in every corner of Malaysian cities and rural areas, actively recruiting young people to join them and take part in the “jihad” abroad, or to receive training in Syria before returning to launch terrorist attacks.