Newly-graduated constables take a group selfie to commemorate the end of their training.
KUCHING: Four Sarawakians were among 122 individuals arrested by police for their involvement in the Islamic State (IS) militant movement last year.
Federal Special Branch director Datuk Seri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the four, who hailed from Kuching, Serian and Samarahan, were picked up separately in different locations outside the state and were not linked to one another.
“One of the suspects was detained by Turkish authorities as he was enroute to Aleppo in Syria to join other IS fighters.
“We notified our counterparts in Turkey and they arrested him upon his arrival at the airport there before deporting him to Malaysia,” he said during a press conference held yesterday at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Puncak Borneo here.
Despite the involvement of the four Sarawakians in militant activities, Mohamad Fuzi disclosed that no similar arrests have been made within the state.
“Even though there has not been any IS-related arrest in Sarawak, we must not let our guard down but remain vigilant and take proactive measures to ensure incidents that have taken place overseas do not occur here.”
He also added that the police would be stepping up their monitoring activities in the days leading up to Chinese New Year to guard against any potential threats from IS militants.
Earlier, Mohamad Fuzi witnessed the end-of-training ceremony for 1,364 police constables and presented Shaiful Huzairi Mohd Kahil from Semporna, Sabah with the award for Overall Best Trainee, Brian Meinsel Rateng from Serian for Best Outdoor Training, and Muhammad Hazham Kamarolzaman from Bentong, Pahang for Best Academics.
In his speech to the new constables, the Special Branch director called on them to practice life-long learning to better improve their knowledge and skills which will aid them in life and in their careers.
“Even though you are starting out as constables, you will have the opportunity to be promoted to higher or even senior ranks so long as you strive to increase your knowledge and academic qualifications, as well as display a high level of discipline and commitment in your work,” he said, citing the example of two former Bukit Aman directors who began their career in the police force as constables.
Among those present to witness the end-of-training ceremony were State Police Commissioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor, Federal Management Department deputy director (Training) Datuk Narenasagaran Thangaveloo, deputy State Police Commissioner Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusuf, and Pulapol Kuching Commandant SAC Azman Salim.
Fuzi presents the award for Overall Best Trainee to Shaiful Huzairi.