Malaysian arrested under Singapore's ISA repatriated

SINGAPORE: A Malaysian, Muhammad Nur Hanief Abdul Jalil who was detained last month under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Singapore was repatriated this month, according to the republic's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In its website today, the MHA said while investigations did not indicate Muhammad Nur Hanief Abdul Jalil had tried to radicalise others or planned any terrorist attack in the island republic, his radicalisation rendered him a security threat to Singapore.
However, the ministry did not disclose Muhammad Nur Hanief's date of repatriation.
According to the MHA, the 33-year-old Malaysian had held various jobs in Singapore since 2011.
"His work pass was therefore, cancelled," it added.
At the time of arrest, Muhammad Nur Hanief was working as a driver with a local airfreight company.
"As a driver for an airfreight company, he had access to the Changi Airfreight Centre, which is a restricted area. The Airfreight Centre provides airfreight services to Changi Airport," said the ministry.
MHA said investigations revealed that since 2008, Muhammad Nur Hanief perused online materials of foreign extremist preachers.
"Through sustained exposure to such materials, he became convinced that he should travel to Syria or Palestine to participate in the conflict there," it added.
MHA said late last year, the Malaysian decided to act on his plans to participate in the conflict in Syria or Palestine after suffering setbacks in his work and personal life.
"He was prepared to join any militant group there, including the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Free Syrian Army, or Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (previously known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham / Jabhat al-Nusra), because he believed that all these groups would ultimately unite at the "end-of-times", said the ministry. — Bernama