http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/20/focus/6508670&sec=focus
The Star Online <http://thestar.com.my/default.asp> > Focus Sunday June 20, 2010 All-out effort needed against JI activities THE STAR SAYS... LATELY, there has been disconcerting news that Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), identified internationally as a terrorist group, is expanding its activities even here in Malaysia. However, the Home Ministry has assured Malaysians there is nothing to worry about. While it is comforting to know that the authorities are on top of the situation, there should also be no room for a dangerous complacency. If JI is indeed being watched and tracked, then there is no need for undue alarm. However, the situation demands constant vigilance, since the group is known to be wily and to change its tactics. JI activity in Malaysia is not new. It is known to have a membership following here, besides establishing a madrasah in Johor in the 1990s. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said JI was not linked to established Malaysian political organisations. But they may well want to do that for propaganda and proselytising purposes, so it could come down to the authorities having to continue to foil their efforts in that direction. Musa said police had thwarted JI's attempts to blow up two places of worship in the country six months ago. While keeping their channels of information open, police will need to continue frustrating such dastardly attempts. Malaysia has tried long and hard to preserve national unity through our various ethnic and religious identities. This is a work in progress that must continue with co-operation between the public and authorities. JI has also reportedly been trying to recruit university students here for jihad "missions" abroad. Wherever they are directed to strike, no Malaysian student should have to be so deranged as to succumb. When approached, students should play along only for so long as to report their contacts to the authorities. These canvassing interlocutors need to be removed from society root and branch. The authorities also need to investigate why some students succumb to the purveyors of doom. Whatever inducements or blandishments offered must be neutralised comprehensively and systemically. An effective campaign against terrorist activities must also be unhindered by specific labels. Terrorism can and does come in various guises, and even now may span more than just JI. _____ C 1995-2010 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
