New law to combat terrorism

KUALA LUMPUR: A new law will be enacted to specifically fight terrorism and militant activities in the wake of the threats and risks posed to national security by the Islamic State (IS).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the risks posed by IS clearly show that the crisis has to be addressed immediately through a new law specifically for this purpose.
Tabling the 19-page White Paper titled "Towards Handling Threats of Islamic State" in the Dewan Rakyat, he proposed that the new law be enacted in the next Parliament sitting as the government cannot take the IS threat lightly.
"The involvement of Malaysians in militant activities using the name of Islam has tarnished the country's image and affected the sanctity of Islam.
"All Malaysians, regardless of race, religion and political ideology, have to reject extremism and believe that moderation is the best way to guarantee peace and harmony in the country," Najib said, explaining the danger of IS and the level of threats to national security.
"The militants, who are equipped with military expertise, logistics and capability to make explosive materials, will be able to make individual attacks, form IS cell groups in Malaysia and establish a network with militants in the region, if action is not taken.
"I am sure that many Malaysians do not understand the ideology of IS, which uses Islam as a mask for its extremist activities.
"They have wrongly interpreted the teachings of Islam, especially in the jihad concept, which is through extremism," Najib said.
Citing the first case of a Malaysian, Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki, 26, who became a suicide bomber and killed 25 Iraq elite military officers in Anbar, he said instead of taking care of his family at this young age, Tarmimi wasted his life by acting against Islamic teachings.
“I am worried that these numbers would increase as 39 Malaysians have been identified to be in Syria now and 40 others would have met the same fate if the authorities did not arrest them,” Najib said, referring to four other Malaysians involved in militant activities killed in Syria this year.
He said the government is also concerned that the IS militants would establish networks with the Abu Sayyaf group in the Mindanao islands in South Philippines and increase threats to East Malaysia.
Hence the White Paper also proposed strengthening of existing laws like Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, Prevention of Crime (Amendments and Extensions) Act 2013 and the Penal Code to specifically handle militant activities.
The prime minister also said:
* Efforts must be taken to prevent Malaysians from being involved in any militant activity;
* The National Fatwa (Edicts) Council has listed IS as a terrorist group, and deaths of Muslims due to IS activities could not be categorised as martyrdom.
* The government realised that it is not easy to change the ideology of militant groups as they completely reject any other opinion,