16 M'sians linked to Islamic State have returned home
Sixteen Malaysians linked to the Islamic State (IS) in Syria have returned to Malaysia, said the Home Ministry.
This is according to a parliamentary reply to Selayang MP William Leong who asked Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin about the number of IS militants who have returned to Malaysia and the preventive action that has been taken to ensure they do not engage in terrorist or militant activities in the country.
Sixteen Malaysians linked to the Islamic State (IS) in Syria have returned to Malaysia, said the Home Ministry.
This is according to a parliamentary reply to Selayang MP William Leong who asked Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin about the number of IS militants who have returned to Malaysia and the preventive action that has been taken to ensure they do not engage in terrorist or militant activities in the country.
"Based on police statistics, as of June 30, 16 Malaysians in Syria have returned to this country. They comprise 12 adults and four children," the Home Ministry said in a written reply.
It added that out of the 12 adults, nine have received jail sentences.
For the remaining three, one is on trial while another is under a restriction order in line with the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 and the last one was released.
"As for the four children, they have been handed over to their families," it said.
The Home Ministry said police were constantly conducting surveillance on IS elements in the country and action would be taken to prevent any foreign terrorist fighters who have returned from reengaging in terrorist activities.
This was done through cross-agency intelligence gathering, tougher border control, blacklisting suspected terrorists, enforcement against foreign terrorist fighters to have returned to the country through illegal means and putting them through a deradicalisation programme.
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