Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
KUALA LUMPUR: Electronic Monitoring Devices (EMD) will be fitted on individuals who are arrested for their involvement in militant activities after their release, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the device was expected to be able to be used from July, after the relevant law was gazetted.
“A total of 107 people who have been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota), if they want to be released, and at the same time want to be monitored, the EMD is fitted on them to monitor their movements.
“EMD is also fitted on criminals who have been released and are to be monitored under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca),” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
He said that the device would be fitted on the feet of the individuals concerned for a specified time period.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said police were tracking down the remaining individuals believed to be members of the so-called IS militant group after 12 of them were arrested on Saturday and Sunday.
“Only some of them were arrested and the 12 people are only part of them,” he said.
A group of 12 locals suspected to be IS members were caught testing explosives in a remote area in Gunung Nuang near Hulu Langat.
Earlier during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara, Ahmad Zahid said seven of the 12 individuals arrested were wiremen.
“They are influenced by the elements of IS leaders and learn to make bombs through social media, they need not to go to Syria or Iraq.
They are not only religiously ignorant, but also disregard all political boundaries” he said.
Ahmad Zahid was replying to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Dr Johari Mat who wanted to know the level of religious knowledge of those who participated in IS and the government’s plans to increase awareness among the people in the country to curb the increase in number of participants in the group.
The study also found that more than 50 per cent of individuals who were involved with IS were aged 40 and below, he said.
He said the study clearly showed that the militant group was targeting young people, as the group often obtained information via social media. — Bernama