Two individuals join IS on pretext of going for Umrah

KUALA LUMPUR - Police have identified two individuals who have joined Islamic State (IS) via pilgrim agencies, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar

Khalid said the two individuals have reached Syria to join IS on the pretext of going for their pilgrimage.

"We believe that the hajj and pilgrim agencies are not aware about this and did not collaborate with these suspects," he said, after officiating at the closing of Ops Selamat 6/2015 at Terminal Bersepadu Selatan here today.

Khalid added that this is the latest strategy used by militants to avoid police detection after 71 individuals were detained by police as they attempted to leave the country for Syria.

"This is a very serious problem. We have identified two cases so far. They lied to perform Umrah, but eventually they joined IS.

"We hope the government can enact new laws to address this issue comprehensively before it becomes a bigger problem," he said.

To date, there are 61 Malaysians in Syria, including 10 women.

Previously, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin spoke of this modus operandi used by militants as a pretext to join IS.

He said the information was obtained through cooperation and information-sharing with foreign countries including member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Hamzah had also said that once these militants arrive in Madinah purportedly for performing their pilgrimage, they would disappear.

Meanwhile, Khalid said police will call up Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy to facilitate investigations over his alleged seditious remarks in connection with the May 13 tragedy on social media.

Ramasamy had allegedly posted a statement saying that he was not afraid if the May 13 incident happened again.

The posting quoted Ramasamy as saying that the MIC, Gerakan and MCA might be scared, and challenged Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to bring back the May 13 incident.

Khalid also warned any individuals, especially leaders from any organisations to practice caution when making statements on social media.

"I said leaders because they have their own followers. The followers will misinterpret any statements made by them and this will create chaos in the country," he said.