IGP Says Police Will Help Malaysian ISIS Fighters To Come Back 'As They Are Our Citizens'
Some 50 Malaysians who had joined the Islamic State wants to come back.
By Sadho Ram — 25 Nov 2016, 11:47 AM
Yesterday, 24 November, during a press conference at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters that some 50 Malaysian Islamic State fighters in Syria & Iraq want to return home
According to a report in The Malay Mail Online, the nation's top cop said that more than 50 Malaysians who are part of the Islamic State militant group wish to return to Malaysia. They, however, fear death at the hands of fellow militants if they leave.
He also said that police will try to help them if there is a way
"As a country that is responsible to its people, if there is a way, police will help them, as they are our citizens. Although, we (understand that some of them) have burned and torn their passports, many want to come back, and are attempting to do so," he said.
"They have to find their own way (here) because they are not allowed to go back to Syria, (as they) will be killed by ISIS," the IGP was quoted as saying by NST.
The IGP did add, though, that while the government would facilitate their return to Malaysia, these Malaysian Islamic State militants would not be exempted from penalty under the country's law
According to the IGP, about 60 Malaysians were believed to have joined ISIS. 14 were suicide bombers who reportedly died in Syria.
On the other hand, 260 Islamic State militants had been arrested and were serving out their sentence, he was reported saying by The Malay Mail Online.
According to FMT, there were 47 Malaysians, 12 of them women, who were currently fighting for Islamic State, Special Branch Commissioner Mohamad Fuzi Harun had revealed earlier this year
He said there were as many as 55 people from Malaysia who went to join IS recently, but eight have either returned to the country, been arrested or been charged in court.
Back in June this year, IGP Khalid had challenged Malaysian ISIS militants in Syria to "come back", saying that Malaysian authorities are not intimidated by threats made by its citizens abroad
"Do not try to threaten us. Even though we do not take this lightly, but I think we are too old to take these kinds of threats. If you dare to make threats from afar, come back here and do it," he was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail Online in its report on 24 June.