COMMENT The Islamic State has become one of the most serious regional concerns for domestic and international security. Many Southeast Asian nations are now having to face up to the foreign fighter phenomenon, with increasing numbers of their citizens being lured by the ISIS ideology.

To date, more than 500 Indonesians and 200 Malaysians are believed to have joined the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. This is a worrying trend, especially for Malaysia, given its relatively small population.

Since 2013, more than 120 individuals have been arrested by Malaysian authorities either for trying to join Islamic State or returning from fighting with them. This poses a serious threat, given the group’s stated aim of expanding its operations in Malaysia...