Radicalisation not only a security issue: M’sian minister
SINGAPORE — Malaysia is approaching the threat of radicalisation in a multi-faceted manner, even as it stays vigilant against threats from the Islamic State, said its Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin.
Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) hosting Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (also Chairman of UMNO Youth Wing) and Dr Dino Patti Djalal, former Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Indonesia, at a Future50 talk. Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — Malaysia is approaching the threat of radicalisation in a multi-faceted manner, even as it stays vigilant against threats from the Islamic State, said its Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin.
The country is looking to set up an overseas volunteer organisation, overseen by his ministry and modelled after the Peace Corps in the United States, to cater to young Malaysians who want to help out in other countries.
Radicalisation is “a multi-faceted problem, it’s not just a security issue. It’s also an issue of education, socio-economic background, also how we deal with young people in Malaysia”, he told reporters from Singapore ahead of a talk organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.
Official statistics show that 30 Malaysians have gone to Iraq and Syria, and another 30 have been stopped at the border, he said, adding: “Unofficially there may be more.”
But Mr Khairy also sought to “put things in perspective”, noting that fewer Malaysians have gone to Iraq and Syria than those from some other countries such as Sweden. NEO CHAI CHIN
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