Police station attack: Terrorist ideology 'still alive' in M'sia - analyst

The attack on the Ulu Tiram police station today by a man linked to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) is a firm reminder that terrorist ideology is still a problem in Malaysia, said an analyst.

“After the terrorist attack on Movida nightclub in Puchong in 2016, we thought such a thing would never happen again in this country.

“Perhaps, we became somewhat complacent but this latest attack is a reminder that just because we have neutralised their leaders or organisation, it doesn’t mean the ideology is gone too,” Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd (Arrescon) principal consultant R Paneir Selvam told Malaysiakini.

Earlier today, two police officers were killed and another was injured in an attack on the Ulu Tiram police station.

Johor police chief M Kumar confirmed the incident, stating that it occurred at 2.45am and involved a masked intruder armed with pistols and a machete.

The suspect was reported to have been shot dead at the scene.

Following the incident, the police seized a Walther P99 pistol and a HK MP5 submachine gun from the suspect.

Later, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the suspect was identified as having links to JI.

Police suspected the 22-year-old man had pre-planned and launched the attack to get his hands on firearms kept at the station, but have yet to ascertain the suspect’s agenda behind the plan.

They have also arrested two students - one male aged 22 and one female aged 21 - who visited the station not long before the attack.

‘Lone-wolf attack’

Touching on the matter, Paneir Selvam said that based on news reports, it is clear that it was a lone-wolf attack, adding it was peculiar for them to stage an attack on a police station.

“This is dangerously unique as terrorists hardly target our police stations.

“It’s a sign that the police must beef up security at their premises,” he said.

On that note, the analyst questioned the local security and intelligence agencies on strategies they have employed over the years to neutralise terrorist ideology, apart from compelling suspects to attend de-radicalisation programmes.

“You must understand that these people are brainwashed with an extreme ideology.

“Therefore, de-radicalisation programmes alone won’t work as not many have shown remorse.”

As such, Paneir Selvam urged the state religious departments to work with the police and identify hate preachers among the community - who can come in the form of religious experts, teachers and others.

Whether the incident could have been inspired by the petrol bomb attacks levelled on a popular retail outlet and the home of a DAP MP, Paneir Selvam said politicians who play the race and religion card must be reprimanded by the police.

“When politicians play on incendiary matters, it gets broadcast all over and some may feel the security forces are not doing enough to protect their faith.

“Hence, they may feel a need to take matters into their own hands.

“In any case, the attack on the police station was definitely done by a sleeper cell and our security forces must understand that these days, terrorists act autonomously as they no longer rely on an organisation or central leader,” he added.

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