Zahid Hamidi
BAGAN DATOH: All parties be they political leaders or the public have been reminded not to belittle Malaysia’s sharing of information on security with other countries.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stressed that such sharing of information was important in light of terrorist threats which could materialise anytime.
“The question is not ‘if’ but ‘when it’s going to happen’, don’t think this is a political issue, don’t think we (authorities) are just trying to intimidate.
“We give information so that we can be alert and take action, we don’t want an attack such as at the entertainment centre in Puchong, Selangor on July 28,” he told reporters after the Bagan Datoh UMNO delegates meeting at Wisma UMNO, Hutan Melintang here today.
The meeting attended by 477 delegates was officiated by UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is also Defence Minister.
Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister said the cooperation of political parties was crucial in the government’s concerted effort to prevent activities by militants such as Daesh, from snaking among the population.
“We should handle the Daesh threat together, set aside political interest and together overcome the influence of Daesh through social media,” he said.
Asked on the six Indonesians who were arrested in Pulau Batam for planning an attack on Singapore, Ahmad Zahid said there were currently more than 300 followers of Abu Bakar Bashir on the island.
“He was sentenced to three years in prison and is now free, that’s why they are in Batam, they want to make it a new Daesh territory,” he said.
The deputy prime minister said the authorities had placed various security assets and strength in high risk areas to ensure that such terrorist threat and influence would not enter Malaysia. – Bernama