28 Chinese nationals suspected of being Etim members, repatriated

BEIJING: Twenty-eight Chinese nationals suspected of being members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (Etim) founded by militant Uyghurs in western China, who were detained in Malaysia had been repatriated up to December, 2016.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said they were among 260 individuals, including Malaysians, who were detained for various offences related to involvement and support for terror groups.
He said among the Acts applied to detain them was the Special Measures Against Terrorism in Foreign Countries Act 2015 (SMATA).
Ahmad Zahid said several discussions were held during his working visit to China since Jan 10 on security matters as well as on terrorism, and according to him, China was also not free of internal security issues, including threats posed by groups trained to join Daesh abroad.
"There are Chinese nationals in Turkey, Syria and Iraq. They had come to Malaysia through a number of countries and then left for Syria and Iraq via Istanbul or Ankara using international documents from another country," he told a press conference, here, today.
"China is thankful for PDRM's (Royal Malaysian Police) efficiency, enabling it to detect individuals who became terrorists and having eluded certain countries before arriving in Malaysia," he added.
Ahmad Zahid said there were also individuals and groups from China who were detained in Malaysia following intelligence information channelled by the Chinese authority, which also provided biometric data, to enable PDRM to detain them before they could depart to another country.
When referred to a recent statement by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that investors from China were taking away investment opportunities from local investors, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysians should open their hearts and minds by welcoming foreign investors.
"Although we have differences of opinions over interpretations and so on, in the interest of the country we should look at foreign investment opportunities for more rapid economic growth, which also depends on the FDI volume in the country.
"Domestic investors need be given priority, but their capacity might be limited, especially in injecting capital for new technology," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said investments brought in were not just for capital financing, but also for injection and transfer of knowledge and new technology into the country.
The deputy prime minister is scheduled to leave for Kunming in Yunnan Province tomorrow to continue his working visit to China. — Bernama