Migrant workers, once perceived mainly through the lens of economic necessity, are increasingly becoming targets and tools for transnational terrorist networks.
This case is not an isolated incident. It reflects a growing trend where foreign terrorist elements exploit migrant vulnerabilities to infiltrate host nations like Malaysia and to propagate violent ideologies among diaspora communities.
The implications are severe, not just for Bangladesh but also for Malaysia, where the manipulation of identity politics and religion, commonly referred to as 3R issues (race, religion, and royalty), could be weaponised to inspire domestic and regional terrorism.
The primary motivation for these migrant radicals to bring extremist ideology into Malaysia stems from their grievances rooted in homeland politics and religious identity.
Many Bangladeshi migrant workers, particularly those from blue-collar backgrounds, face isolation, discrimination, and economic marginalisation in foreign countries. These conditions make them...