MALAYSIA is entering a new phase in its battle against militancy, with the latest trends pointing to increased involvement of foreign nationals in extremist movements rooted in radical ideology and violence.
Professor Dr Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam, a strategic and counter-terrorism analyst from the National Defence University of Malaysia, said analysis from 2022 to 2025 reveals a marked rise in militant-related arrests involving individuals from Indonesia and the Philippines.
“Since 2022 to 2024, we’ve also seen a growing trend of extremist idealism among citizens of Myanmar, the Rohingya community, and Bangladesh,” Sinat Harin quoted him saying.
“Their diaspora is expanding and spreading radical ideology. There has indeed been a shift in the nature of the threat—from domestic actors to foreign individuals within our borders. These elements are coming from outside, not originating from within Malaysia,” he added.
Mohd Mizan explained that no single dataset currently captures the extent of foreign extremist groups operating in Malaysia, as the elements originate from multiple countries and conflict zones.
“We’ve had arrests involving individuals from the Uyghur community, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Yemen, and many other nations. This indicates that such groups are capable of growing and bringing external ideologies into the country, posing a significant threat,” he said.
While many of those detained have been deported, imprisoned, or prosecuted under Malaysian law, some remain in the country due to safety concerns.
“In some cases, repatriation isn’t possible as returning to their home country could pose a threat to their lives. That is why we try to prosecute them within the Malaysian legal framework,” he noted.
He further stressed that among Bangladeshi militants, their involvement is often linked to networks with Rohingya and Myanmar nationals, as they share a similar diaspora background.
“They grow within these networks and pose a threat to Malaysia. The ideologies they bring with them carry two distinct risks.
“First is political resistance against regimes in their countries of origin—Bangladesh, China (regarding the Uyghurs), and Sri Lanka (involving LTTE). These movements thrive in Malaysia due to the presence of large, successful diasporas.
“The second, more alarming, threat is the spread of ISIS or Daesh ideology. This belief system is expanding within Malaysia, recruiting new members in an attempt to establish a so-called Islamic State based on their radical interpretation,” he said.
Mohd Mizan urged the Malaysian government to remain vigilant, stressing that threats no longer stem solely from within the country but are increasingly being imported through new and evolving channels. - June 28, 2025
