When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his deep sorrow over the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, his words resonated beyond sympathy for the victims. His condemnation of such acts of terror was a statement of principle that violence against innocents is never justifiable, no matter its cause or context.
Yet, beneath his compassion lies
an important warning: terrorism today has evolved beyond the familiar image of
armed radicals or religious fanatics. It has entered a new, more insidious
phase, one where professionals, educated individuals with status and
legitimacy, become silent enablers of extremism.
In this modern era, terrorism no
longer operates solely through the gun or the bomb. It thrives through systems
of trust - financial systems, educational institutions, charities, and
corporations. These are the same systems managed and occupied by professionals:
doctors, accountants, engineers, lecturers, executives, and researchers.
These individuals have access to
credibility, networks, and resources that extremist groups could never obtain
on their own. By manipulating legitimacy, they provide the cover that allows
radical operations to flourish unseen.
Malaysia, with its growing
economy and global connections, faces this threat more acutely than ever. The
country’s open financial system, vibrant universities, expanding philanthropic
sector, and international business ties create both strength and vulnerability.
These spaces are built on trust
and legitimacy, the qualities that extremists can exploit. When a professional
channels funds under the guise of a research grant or humanitarian aid,
traditional law enforcement may see nothing amiss.
When a university academic
collaborates with an overseas institution that covertly promotes extremist
ideology, oversight mechanisms may not detect the danger until it is too late.
This is the domain of
white-collar extremism - the new face of terrorism that hides behind desks,
laboratories, and boardroom tables. It is more complex, more sophisticated, and
far harder to identify than the militant in the jungle or the preacher in the
mosque.
Malaysia’s history stands as a
cautionary tale, marked by figures like Dr. Azhari Hussein, an engineer and
former university lecturer; Yazid Sufaat, a biochemist by training and former
army captain; Noordin Mohammad Top, a teacher and one-time university student;
and Mahmud bin Ahmad, a university lecturer as all exemplifying that intellect
and education are no barriers to the grip of radicalisation.
Instead, these qualities can
amplify the threat. Their professional expertise enabled them to build bombs,
fund networks, recruit others, and conceal their operations under layers of
credibility. Each used his professional background to facilitate violent
agendas that brought devastation to the region.
Their actions prove that the
pathway to extremism is not limited to poverty, marginalisation, or ignorance.
Sometimes, it begins with a sense
of intellectual superiority or moral outrage. Professionals may be drawn into
extremist ideologies not because of desperation, but because of conviction, the
belief that their intelligence, status, or technical skill can “serve a higher
cause.” For some, the blending of ideology and ego becomes intoxicating. For
others, financial opportunity masquerades as moral duty.
Prime Minister Anwar’s response
to the Delhi blast underscores his awareness of the world’s growing
interconnectedness. In today’s landscape, terrorism transcends borders with
alarming ease, while attacks may be carried out locally, their financing,
planning, and ideological influence often originate abroad, and at times, are
reinforced by local support networks.
These dynamic demands that
Malaysia re-evaluate how it perceives and counters extremism. The threat is no
longer defined by visible militancy, but by the invisible facilitation networks
hidden within legitimate institutions.
Professionals serve as perfect
conduits for such operations because they are trusted. A doctor’s clinic, an
academic research project, or a charitable foundation naturally attracts less
scrutiny than a shadowy organisation.
Through these respectable
facades, extremists can launder funds, procure materials, or influence public
opinion without raising suspicion. A manipulated insurance claim, a falsified
invoice, or a research grant routed through shell entities may look harmless on
paper but can in reality finance violence thousands of miles away.
Adding to this complexity is the
possibility of foreign manipulation. In a world of geopolitical rivalry,
terrorism has occasionally been used as a tool to weaken or destabilise
nations. Foreign actors, whether state or non-state, may exploit local professional
networks to sow discord or chaos.
Malaysia’s open and trusted
institutions make it an attractive target for such interference. Professionals
could be co-opted through academic partnerships, charitable collaborations, or
foreign-funded research initiatives that subtly embed ideological or political
agendas.
To address this, Malaysia must
adopt a new model of vigilance, one that recognises that legitimacy itself can
be weaponised. Professional associations, universities, corporations, and banks
must all play active roles as guardians of integrity.
The medical council could
implement training on recognising ideological manipulation; universities must
scrutinise funding and research collaborations; corporate boards should monitor
for suspicious financial flows or offshore partnerships; and banks must develop
algorithms that detect unusual patterns linked to professional accounts and
charities.
However, this approach must
balance security with trust. Over-surveillance or arbitrary suspicion could
erode professional confidence and stifle innovation. The key is intelligent
oversight that vigilance rooted in ethics, transparency, and responsibility
rather than fear. Professionals should be seen not as potential threats, but as
partners in prevention. They occupy the front lines of legitimacy, and their
awareness is Malaysia’s best defence.
The tragedy in Delhi serves as a
painful reminder that terror can strike unexpectedly and with devastating
precision. For Malaysia, the lesson is clear: the enemy may no longer wear
camouflage or carry assault rifles. It may wear a suit, hold a degree, and
command respect.
As Anwar Ibrahim reminded the
world, terrorism must be condemned wherever it appears and in Malaysia’s case,
that includes when it hides behind the polished veneer of professionalism.
11.11.2025
Kuala Lumpur.
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