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Malaysian police have dismantled a network accused of spreading Islamic State (IS) ideology and soliciting funds from Bangladeshi workers in the country, the nation’s top police official said on Friday.
The group allegedly used social media and messaging platforms to disseminate extremist content and radicalise Bangladeshi nationals employed in Malaysia’s labour-intensive sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and services.
Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said 36 Bangladeshi nationals had been arrested since April in a series of coordinated operations. All had entered Malaysia legally for work.
The arrests mark a significant disruption of IS-related activity in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country that has cracked down on militancy following a 2016 Islamic State-linked attack in Kuala Lumpur. Although the frequency of arrests has declined in recent years, authorities remain vigilant against possible extremist threats, particularly within the large migrant workforce.
Malaysia depends on foreign workers, including thousands from Bangladesh, to support key sectors such as plantations, factories and infrastructure development.
It also raised funds using international fund transfer services and e-wallets to send to the Islamic State group in Syria and Bangladesh, he added, declining to provide further details on the amount raised.
Among those detained, five have been charged with being part of a terrorist organisation, while 15 will be deported. Another 16 remain in police custody pending further investigation, with further arrests expected, Mohd Khalid said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA total of between 100 and 150 people are suspected to be involved in the network, he said.
“We will deport those with minimal involvement back to their home country, while those with greater involvement wil be charged under Malaysian laws,” he said.
With inputs from agencies