KUALA LUMPUR – Wisma Putra should be more concerned about the involvement of Malaysians in terrorist activities as opposed to their welfare in detention by foreign authorities, said a counterterrorism expert.
On September 18, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said the government is closely monitoring the detention of a Malaysian man known as Ahmad Mustakim Abdul Hamid for his alleged involvement in Al-Shabaab activities in Somalia, and has sent a diplomat to ensure the detainee’s welfare.
Counterterrorism adviser Andrin Raj assured that the Somali government will prosecute the detainee according to local laws.
However, no leniency will be shown by Somali authorities given that Al-Shabaab is a terror organisation.
“Malaysia should be more concerned about his involvement in Al-Shabaab rather than his welfare, as Somalia adheres to international laws on issues related to detention,” Andrin told The Vibes.
Commenting further, Andrin, who was appointed by Somalia’s Endowment and Religious Affairs Ministry as its counterterrorism adviser, said Putrajaya should refrain from viewing Mustakim as a regular criminal, and instead, treat him as a terrorist.
He drew similarities with Malaysia’s treatment of Noordin Mohammad Top, an expert bomb maker born in Johor and tied to al-Qaeda.
Noordin is said to have been involved in at least eight bombings in Indonesia, and was prominent for recruiting suicide bombers and securing funding for terror activities before being killed by the authorities during a raid in Central Java.
“This is similar to when news headlines featured the importance of returning terrorist Noordin Top’s body to Malaysia,” said Andrin.
“He is an Islamist terrorist and a criminal, and that’s about that.”
According to the Foreign Ministry, Mustakim allegedly entered Somalia to engage in Al-Shabaab activities.
The family of the detainee have been informed, and Malaysia will apply to attend his court proceedings. – The Vibes, September 23, 2021
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