Study efforts by Middle East to defeat Daesh threat in M'sia: Hishammuddin

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is expected to study the recent actions taken by the Middle East in an effort to ensure that development of Daesh militants does not take root in the country and divide Muslims within the South East Asia region, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Through his official visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain next week, Hishammuddin said that it is important for Malaysia to be in the loop on these matters and share our concern with the countries that are currently dealing with the Daesh threat in Iraq and Syria.
"I am going to the U.A.E, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain first.
"After that maybe Kuwait and Qatar," he said during the Hari Raya open house celebrations organised by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at the Putrajaya International Conference Centre, here, today.
Saying that the threat is very real, Hishammuddin said at present a number of Daesh militants have escaped the Middle East region.
"They (Daesh militants) are running away somewhere, we want to make sure it is not in our region.
"Given the Marawi situation, it is worrying, four Malaysians have been killed there so far and we have heard (reports) of militants from Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Australia," he said adding that he is expected to be in the U.A.E by Monday.
The celebrations involving over 1,000 PMO staff from its related departments and agencies was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa along with other cabinet ministers.