Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has downplayed threats by militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) to wipe out non-Muslims in the country.

 

"They are just talking. Everyone can talk, but whether they can do it or not is another matter.

"Do not pay too much attention to what they are saying," he told a press conference in Cheras this morning.

Khalid vowed that the police will not allow militants to carry out this threat.

"This country has laws, this country has its enforcers. We will not allow such a situation happen in our country," he said.

Khalid was responding to Bukit Aman's Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division principal assistant director Ayob Khan, who in an interview in Oriental Daily , had urged non-Muslims to be on alert.

This, he said, is after militants captured and interrogated by the authorities revealed that they were out to "wipe out" non-Muslims in the country.

"Based on information we gathered from a few arrests we made earlier, we learned that these militants have been brain-washed to accept the (extremist) approach. That is very worrying," Ayob was quoted as saying.

Ayob said intelligence shows that IS has been recruiting and training militants from Malaysia in Syria who are then "exported" back to Malaysia with the purpose of launching a jihad (holy war) locally.

These jihadists, according to Ayob, believe that all non-Muslims in this country, including the Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, the Chinese and the Indians, should be wiped out.

Ayob said even moderate Muslims who do not agree with these militants' extreme approach will likely be targeted too.

Related stories

IGP coy about Bible burning threat

Police chief: Teoh family's unhappy with everything

In prison, one dipper for all, says Uthaya

Sarawak BN leaders slam 'pendatang' label

Three charged with attempting to join IS

'Students in Britain set shining example'