THE Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has thwarted 26 terror plots targeting the country over the past nine years, with all plans detected at their final stages before execution, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, said today.
Speaking after a forum organised by the National Book Development Foundation (NBDF) and the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) in Kuching, Ayob Khan said some plots involved explosives, hand grenades, and even firearms.
"Some had already prepared explosives and hand grenades, and there were even those ready with firearms. However, we (Malaysia) are fortunate because there is a team, namely E8 of the PDRM Special Branch, that acted swiftly," he said.
He added that police arrests had increased, particularly after the May 17 attack on Ulu Tiram police station in Johor last year.
"Recently, the police also arrested foreign nationals who had terrorist elements and were identified as being involved with the Islamic State (IS). We received intelligence information and were able to ensure early action was taken before they could carry out an attack," he said.
Ayob Khan highlighted that the public often remained unaware of the foiled attacks, perceiving arrests as routine because no attacks occurred.
"Kalau kita gagal kesan peringkat awal, ia akan memberikan impak besar kepada masyarakat dan selepas itu barulah mereka tahu bagaimana seriusnya ancaman pengganas di Malaysia," he said.
All 26 plots were linked to Islamic State-affiliated groups, according to Ayob Khan. - October 28, 2025
