Zamri (second right) handing over a replica key to Supt Abdullah Arshad (left) during the handing over of police patrol car ceremony at Kedah police contingent headquarters. — Bernama photo
ALOR SETAR: Kedah police are gathering strong evidence before taking action against madrasahs (private religious schools) in the state involved in militant activities, said state police chief Datuk Zamri Yahya.
Among the private religious schools being monitored include Madrasah Nurul Hidayah in Kuala Ketil, which was jointly founded by Lotfi Ariffin who was killed fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group.
“We are gathering stronger evidence first and are waiting for a suitable time to act against militant activities at madrasahs,” he told reporters after handing over a Police Patrol Vehicle at the Kedah police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
Lotfi Ariffin, who was a former Kedah PAS information chief and was once detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was killed in an ambush by the Syrian army last year.
According to Zamri, police were working with the Kedah Islamic Religious Council (MAIK) in monitoring and eradicating militant activities in the state.
The Kedah police chief said at the moment, police have not called up or met any family members or relatives of Mohd Lofti for questioning.
He also said information collected would enable police investigate and take action to eradicate activities disseminated by various means.
Apart from that, he said parents had also been told to lodge police reports immediately should they find their children who are studying in madrasahs showing interest in militant activities.
According to him, Kedah police would be meeting with mosque and madrasah committee members in the state to check the spread of militant teachings.
Last week, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police would be monitoring closely all private religious schools in the country to ensure militant ideology does not take root here.
This came in the wake of the New York Times on Jan 14 featuring a video clip entitled ‘The Jihadist in Our Family’ on its interview with the family of Lofti in Kuala Ketil. — Bernama