The nation's security forces have succeeded in curbing and thwarting several attempts by the Daish militant group to kidnap the country's leaders including the Prime Minister, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed that besides Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had also been the targets.
"On Jan 30, 2015, a total of 13 individuals associated with the Daish militant group plotted to kidnap the country's top leaders including the prime minister, home and defence ministers," he said.
Ahmad Zahid was responding to a question from Datuk Abdul Manan Ismail (BN-Paya Besar) who wanted clarification on the Royal Malaysian Police's (PDRM) success in preventing terrorist attacks by Daish militants in the country.
READ: 'I'm not afraid of Daish's kidnap threats' - Hishammuddin
Elaborating, Ahmad Zahid said besides the plot to kidnap, the group also planned attacks on places of worship and public places, steal firearms from army camps as well as rob cash to finance their activities.
He said although there were no Daish branches in the country, those influenced by the militant group ideology received instructions directly from the group in Syria led by Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi.
According to Ahmad Zahid, Daish militant group activities in Malaysia were evident throughout September 2014 to May 2015, and in that period, the security forces detected four plots by the group to attack several locations in Kedah, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
"Looking at the developments on this terrorist threats, we saw a need for an integrated and holistic action and to handle the situation, the Home Ministry and the police resorted to information-sharing cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies, particularly with ASEAN countries," he said.
According to him, as a result of the cooperation, close monitoring was conducted to keep track of those involved with the militant group and names of individuals involved were extended to the Immigration Department to be put on the blacklist and list of suspects.
He added that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission also monitored social media which had become the communication medium of groups influenced by Daish.
He said the Home Ministry and security forces were actively tracking down elements of violence, increasing security and control at locations at risk of becoming targets such as tourist spots, embassies and government buildings, as well as building closer rapport with the public, encouraging them to report of any suspicious activity.
READ: 'Govt should allow Malaysians involved with Daish to return home'
READ: 47 Malaysians involved with Daish in Syria, Iraq
Bernama
Tue Mar 08 2016
AHMAD ZAHID: A total of 13 individuals associated with Daish had plotted to kidnap the country's leaders on Jan 30 last year.
Marrybrown tembusi pasaran Kemboja, Uzbekistan tahun ini
Pembukaan cawangan di dua negara itu merupakan bukti kepada imej dan jenama Marrybrown semakin dikenali di pasaran antarabangsa.
Masih ada majikan culas laksana perintah gaji minimum - MTUC
MTUC sentiasa menggesa kerajaan supaya lebih agresif dalam mengenal pasti majikan yang masih berdegil.
Budak tiga tahun boleh 'mengaum' seperti singa
Gelagat video Riley Kay Scott yang dimuat naik dalam platform X oleh ibunya mencetuskan pelbagai komen lucu.
Niaga AWANI: Meneliti dinamika ekosistem pekerjaan di era teknologi
Teknologi pesat ketika ini memerlukan sektor buruh di negara ini beradaptasi, dan tidak menjadikannya sebagai halangan dalam meningkatkan produktiviti.
Lebih 3,000 rai sambutan Hari Pekerja 2024 peringkat kebangsaan
Suasana meriah di Dewan Plenary Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC) sempena sambutan Hari Pekerja 2024.
AWANI Ringkas: Sultan Nazrin dilantik Pengerusi MKI untuk 2 tahun
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Niaga AWANI: Sejauh mana reformasi dasar diperlukan untuk tangani cabaran TVET?
Graduan dalam aliran Pendidikan Teknikal dan Latihan Vokasional (TVET) kini, mempunyai potensi besar menjadi tenaga mahir negara dalam pelbagai bidang. Apakah langkah yang boleh diambil untuk memastikan kurikulum bidang TVET dapat memenuhi keperluan industri semasa serta dapat mempersiapkan graduan bagi menghadapi pelbagai cabaran dalam pasaran pekerjaan?
Niaga AWANI: Pekerja Kesuma Bangsa: Lonjakkan kesejahteraan pekerja, produktiviti organisasi
Bagaimana untuk memahami hubungan antara kesejahteraan pekerja dan produktiviti organisasi, terutamanya dalam konteks Malaysia?
Agong, Raja Permaisuri zahir penghargaan kepada warga pekerja
Seri Paduka Baginda berdua bertitah warga pekerja adalah pemacu pertumbuhan Malaysia ke tahap yang lebih baik.
Boleh guna kad debit, kredit di semua kaunter khidmat pelanggan - Rapid Rail
Kaedah pembayaran baharu ini bertujuan untuk memberi kemudahan dan meningkatkan kecekapan proses pembelian untuk pengguna Rapid KL.
Ayob Khan dedah terima ancaman bunuh daripada Daish
Ayob Khan berkata, ugutan bunuh yang diterima bukan saja daripada kumpulan pengganas Daish Malaysia, bahkan dari Indonesia