Malaysian police have arrested 36 Bangladeshi nationals this week for their alleged direct involvement in a radical militant network aligned with Islamic State (IS) ideology and violence, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has confirmed.
He stated that the targeted security operation, which commenced on April 24, was executed in three phases across Selangor and Johor, New Strait Times reports.
In a statement, he said that among those arrested, five individuals have been formally charged under the Penal Code’s Chapter VIA concerning terrorism-related offences in the Sessions Courts of Shah Alam and Johor Baru.
"Another 15 people have been issued deportation orders, while 16 others are still under investigation for their involvement in the militant movement," he added.
According to Saifuddin, intelligence from the Special Branch indicated that the group had been promoting IS-linked ideology within Malaysia and had established recruitment cells within their community.
“These cells were set up to indoctrinate radical beliefs, raise funds for terrorist activities, and to ultimately overthrow the legitimate government in their home country,” he explained.
He further emphasized that Malaysia would not be used as a staging ground for any foreign extremist movement.
