Bilateral talks with Asean countries on Daesh threat: IGP

PUTRAJAYA: Issues involving Daesh militant groups and its threat will be discussed through several bilateral talks with Asean member countries, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
He said Malaysian police held talks with Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines on ways to tackle Daesh on the sidelines of the first-day of 36th Asean Chief Polices (Aseanapol) Conference today.
However, he stressed Daesh threat would not be discussed openly during the six-day conference.
"Daesh and terrorism issues must be done via either a two-way or three-way talk. We cannot discuss the issue openly with the 10 countries," he told reporters after the opening ceremony of the 36th Aseanapol Conference by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak at a hotel here today.
Commenting on 'Improvised Explosive Devices' (IED) weighing one kilogramme that was seized recently, Khalid said this group learnt how to make IED through the internet.
"The students had learned how to make the explosives from the Internet and we cannot shut down the internet. We have our own way of detaining them but we cannot reveal the procedure," he said.
Asked when the Digital Counter-Messaging Centre to Combat Terrorism (RDC3) will be operational, Khalid said RDC3 to be based in Putrajaya would be operational soon.
Last Saturday, a student from a private higher learning institution (IPTS) was among 14 individuals arrested in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah from July 14-20 on suspicion of being involved with the Daesh terrorist group by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division.
The suspects comprised 13 men and a woman, all of whom are locals, aged between 20 and 49, said Khalid.
Earlier, Khalid, in his opening speech, stressed the threat from terrorism remains high as terrorist groups continue to plan and carry out attacks.
"We in Malaysia are dauntless in our fight against any act of terror that threatens our democracy and the safety of our people. We call upon our neighbours and friends to join us in our resolute fight against terrorism and to deny terrorists an opportunity to force us to live in fear," he stressed.
On another note, Khalid said besides terrorism, wildlife crime would also be discussed during the six-day conference as the crime was also a threat to the country's biodiversity. — Bernama