Malaysian IS militants planning to return from Syria: Malaysian Police

KOTA KINABALU — A group of Malaysians who have joined Islamic State (IS) in Syria is planning to return home.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said eight have returned, while another 57 are planning to come home.

"These people have brought their families to Syria and when their husband died, the wives and children were taken care of by other militants," he said while delivering his speech during ceo@faculty programme at Universiti Malaysia Sabah on Monday (April 17).

Khalid who was speaking before the varsity students warned them against joining IS or other militant groups.

He said that these groups have been spreading their ideology and recruiting members through social media.

He added that Sabah is also being used by the groups as a transit point to move new recruits to neighbouring countries.

As for former Universiti Malaya student, Siti Noor Aishah Atam, Khalid said she is still considered a threat to security and needed to be detained to prevent her from influencing other young people.

Last year, Aisah was detained for possession of 12 books related to terrorism and later cleared of charges but she was re-arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) last month.

"It is not true that she is innocent. She had tried to contact IS leader and apply for a fake MyKad to go to Syria."