Skip to main content

Criminologist: Malaysia a sinful place to IS?

By Nawar Firdaws

KUALA LUMPUR: Is Malaysia a “place of sin” in the eyes of Islamic State (IS) militants?
An expert in terrorism studies, R Paneir Selvam, certainly thinks so.
Speaking to FMT, Paneir said despite Malaysia being a Muslim country, the terror group was still able to convince a large number of its followers that Malaysia, too, had deviated from the true Islamic teachings.
“This is the IS propaganda — spreading the message that Malaysia is akin to a place of sin.
“They have successfully convinced some into believing that the country’s failure to fulfil or live up to their expectations, especially in the various aspects of religion, qualifies it as a place of sin and hence should not be spared from their attacks.”
The Association of Legal and Policy Researchers’ chairman said although the government had done its best to counter IS ideologies, some still fall for the militants’ “holier than thou” attitude.
“What Malaysian IS members fail to recognise is that the country has been very accepting and accommodating when it comes to the practice of Islam.
“Those who joined IS are the ones who do not have an in-depth understanding of the religion, making them easier to influence, especially by those who appear to be well versed in the Quran.
“IS dangles the carrot of martyrdom and a promise to have the sins of their recruits wiped clean. And that is why it particularly appeals to troubled youth.”
He added that the danger of the Syria and Iraq-based group was the fact that unlike al-Qaeda, IS is not exactly structured.
“Just a small hint, or a message from the leaders, and the members will immediately launch an attack.
“They are also driven by the call of duty to act on behalf of their fellow Muslim brothers and sisters killed elsewhere.”
To be a step ahead of the group, which has taken countless lives, Paneir said the authorities had to go beyond conventional methods and look to forming a team of experts comprising those with diverse backgrounds.
“You can’t rely solely on experts on the topic of Islam. We need to set up a team of experts in various disciplines, religions and expertise, similar to the strategy employed by the United States’ FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to counter terrorism.
“This is necessary to allow a more complete picture and understanding of the problem, so that it can come up with an ‘out of the box’ solution,” said the lecturer at Help University.
Last month, a video published by this terror group was released online, featuring the first known Malaysian IS fighter in Syria, Mohd Rafi Udin, who urged IS supporters here to stage independent attacks.
The call was followed by a grenade attack on the Movida bar in Puchong.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

India-Malaysia ties and the future

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on his first official visit to India. The main aim of this visit is to seek support for Malaysia’s application to join Brics and to fortify bilateral ties, as the country is keen to improve its connections with one of the rapidly expanding economies in Asia. In light of the increasing crumbling of the global order, particularly stemming from trade disputes between the United States and China, as well as the proxy conflict involving the United States and Russia, Malaysia is encouraged to reassess its foreign policy to uphold its neutral stance. Given India’s status as the largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy globally, along with its notable advancements in indigenous space and defence technologies, it is proposed that India emerge as Malaysia’s key partner in the years ahead. Why India is important for Malaysia The historical ties between India and Malaysia extend back several centuries, with significant Indian cultural, religious, and administ...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE HISTORY OF TERRORISM: MORE THAN 200 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT

The history of terrorism dates back at least 1500 years when Jewish resistance groups (66 - 72 A.D.) known as Zealots killed Roman soldiers and destroyed Roman property. The term assassin comes from a Shi'ite Muslim sect (Nizari Isma'ilis - also known as hashashins "hashish-eaters") fighting Sunni Muslims (1090 - 1275) and during Medieval Christendom resisting occupation during the Crusades (1095-1291). The hashashins were known to spread terror in the form of murder, including women and children. The brotherhood of Assassins committed terror so as to gain paradise and seventy-two virgins if killed and to receive unlimited hashish while on earth. The modern development of terrorism began during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror (1793 - 1794). During this period the term terrorism was first coined. Through the past two hundred years, terrorism has been used to achieve political ends and has developed as a tool for liberation, oppression, and i...
Post a Comment
Read more

The by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) and the Indian electorate

  I was born in Malaysia, belonging to the Indian ethnic group, which constitutes approximately 7% of the country's total population. My durable credence is that I am Malaysian first and foremost, and only then do I identify myself as Indian. Regrettably, it saddens me to witness and hear about the actions of certain politicians who question my loyalty to Malaysia. What is even more disheartening is that some Malaysians have been influenced by the manipulative rhetoric of these self-serving politicians. Recently, I have observed numerous discussions on both mainstream and online news platforms regarding the recognition and inclusion of Indians by ruling parties. Surprisingly, even the opposition has displayed a significant interest in the welfare of Indians. Upon contemplating the reasons behind this sudden surge in attention towards Indians, it becomes evident that it is primarily driven by the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election. It is noteworthy that such ...
Post a Comment
Read more