Malaysia cracks down against ISIS by detaining 36 Bangladeshi nationals

In a major crackdown against international terrorism Malaysia has detained 36 Bangladeshi nationals on allegations of having ties to Islamic State, the country’s Home Minister announced in a statement on Friday.

Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Bangladeshis were detained during three raids conducted since 24 April in the country’s Selangor and Johor states.

Ismail claimed that the detainees set up a terrorist recruitment cell to spread the extremist ideologies inspired by the Islamic State within the Bangladeshi diaspora, collect terror funds, and oust the Bangladesh government.


Malaysia would not promote terrorism and extremist movements targeted at foreign lands from its territory, nor would it tolerate threats to its national security, the Home Minister said.

“The Special Branch team’s intelligence and coordinated action revealed that this group brought in extremist beliefs based on the Islamic State (IS) ideology into the country,” Ismail said.

Another 15 individuals of unspecified nationalities have also been issued deportation orders, while 16 others are still under investigation for their suspected involvement in the ISIS.

The Malaysian Home Minister said the success of this operation has shown the efficiency and professionalism of Malaysia’s security forces — especially the police — in ensuring the country’s sovereignty, harmony and public peace.

He said the Home Ministry will continue to strengthen intelligence capabilities and increase enforcement, besides working together with both domestic and foreign security agencies to ensure Malaysia remains peaceful, stable and free from threats of terrorism.

“Any attempts to make Malaysia a base for militant operations or transit centre for extremism movements will be tackled with firm, quick and effective action,” the Minister said.

Since the ouster of PM Sheikh Hasina last August the outlawed terror and radical groups in Bangladesh have activated themselves and are dominating political discourse.