KUALA LUMPUR – Bukit Aman has set up a special unit to constantly monitor social media platforms in an effort to prevent the younger generation from getting caught up with extremist groups that could threaten national security.
This is because these individuals have the potential to be involved in radical and extremist activities if the matter is not addressed immediately, said Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division (E8) principal assistant director Normah Ishak.
She said police took proactive measures by getting close to such individuals as an early mode of prevention to ensure they would not get involved with extremist groups.
“In Malaysia, it is not an offence for an individual to be radical, but it is the starting point of being an extremist. So, we take preventive measures from the beginning by intervening and neutralising the identified individuals.
“We have conducted a few preventive cases last year, and two early this year for individuals in their 20s,” she said when delivering a talk at a workshop on the role of the media in countering violent extremism and radicalisation here recently.
Meanwhile, Prisons deputy director (radical and high-risk detainees/Prisoners Division) Wan Abdul Rahman Wan Yaman said as of March 30, about 55 detainees were placed in prison, with one of them being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
According to him, the radical detainees are detained in a separate building and they will be required to undergo a human development programme through four elements, namely: behaviour, skills, knowledge and spiritual, conducted by the Prisons Department.
He said the prisons are equipped with closed-circuit televisions to monitor their movements and behaviour, especially during their meetings with family members and friends. – Bernama, April 29, 2022
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