The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) plans to send a special team to Beirut to interview the two Malaysians arrested by Lebanese authorities on suspicion of having links with the al-Qaeda terrorist group.

“We have already made preparation and are waiting for a response from our partners (Malaysian Embassy in Lebanon),” said director of Bukit Aman Special Task Force (Operations and Counter Terrorism) Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Razif Mohamad Ariffin, 28, and Mohamad Razin Shahar Mustapha Kamal, 21, were produced before a military tribunal in Beirut on Monday and Wednesday on charges of being terrorists with ties to al-Qaeda.

They reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges and are being detained in a military detention centre in Beirut while waiting for the tribunal’s decision.

Speaking to reporters after a high profile policing walkabout in Masjid India, Dang Wangi in Kuala Lumpur today, Mohamad Fuzi asked all parties not to speculate on their arrest as it does not pose a serious threat.

“We have no real problem in terms of security or terrorist threat and consider it as an isolated case,” he said adding police are trying to prevent terrorists from Malaysia a transit country or transit for third countries.

Mohamad Fuzi said they also monitor websites associated with militancy because they are using the medium to recruit individuals and sow militant ideology.

“A large number of websites with operators outside the country use addresses in Malaysia. We have taken appropriate action including monitor and shutting down the websites involved with militants,” he added.

Malaysian ambassador to Lebanon, Ilango Karuppannan, today held a meeting with Lebanon’s director-general of public security to get the latest information on the two people as to get permission for PDRM to come to Lebanon to meet with them.

- Bernama