Ahmad Zahid (second left) with Muhammad Ibrahim (left), Keenan (second right) and General Wiranto hold the books on ‘Terrorism Financing Regional Risk Assessment on Non-Profit Organisation’ during the opening of 3rd Counter-Terrorism Summit. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains alert to possible threats of terrorism in the region and the world as a whole although no local non-profit organisation has been found to be involved in terrorism financing, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Malaysia had its own system and mechanism to identify any non-profit organisation which was inclined towards terrorism financing because of the country’s collaboration and networking with regional partners.
“We are very concerned that any non-profit organisation implementing activities with good objectives may be misused to promote terrorism, including channelling of funds.
“Non-profit organisations should implement good activities, but any misuse will see action being taken.
“So far, no non-profit organisation is found to be involved, but there are abroad,” he said to reporters after delivering a keynote address at the 3rd Counter-Terrorism Summit organised by Bank Negara in collaboration with Australian and Indonesian financial intelligence agencies here yesterday.
Also present at the press conference were Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Gen Dr H Wiranto and Australia’s Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter-Terrorism Michael Keegan.
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia had its own monitoring method through the Financing Intelligence Unit at Bank Negara which was also linked to the major banks in the countries of the region besides the Royal Malaysia Police intelligence on commercial crime in tracking funds related to terrorism activities.
“We have a special unit to detect not only people but also organisations which fund terrorism. If we have information on any non-profit organisation that abuses the channelling of funds, we will put them on the suspectlist and take action against any individual,” he said.
Touching on the fight against terrorism, Ahmad Zahid said it was not necessary for the world authorities to focus only on the aggressive approach but also look at the ‘gentle approach’ in dealing with acts of terrorism.
He noted that Malaysia always emphasised the ‘gentle approach’ in combating terrorists and terrorism financing activities by focusing on the prevention and rehabilitation aspects.
“This operation is carried out through the Integrated Deradicalisation Module for Detainees run by various agencies including the police and Prisons Department.
“Since the module was introduced in 2001, some 289 terrorists had undergone the rehabilitation programme up to 2012.
“The module had a success rate of 97 per cent, whereby 282 individuals were disengaged from terrorism activities,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also shared the method of installing the monitoring device on detainees and said it was found to be effective in preventing the spread of elements of terrorism. — Bernama