A majority of the Malaysian militants, who had gone to Syria or Iraq to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), never saw combat and ended up doing menial jobs, said Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The deputy home minister said Isis had little use for the Malaysians as soldiers because they did not possess any military training and, therefore, no knowledge in handling weapons.
“Without any fighting skills or combat experience, these Malaysians never really participated in the fight. They only do odd jobs based on what their commanders asked them to do.
“So they became toilet cleaners or kitchen helpers.
“Most of them were, therefore, not given weapons but the few who managed to get their hands on a weapon did fight and got killed or wounded and had to return home,” he told reporters yesterday.
“But these toilet cleaners and kitchen helpers consider themselves militants and make efforts to become soldiers.
“Their mind is set. Fight and kill. What they have is the spirit to fight.”
He said because of their desire to fight and kill, they taught themselves by picking up military skills from other militants such as the making of bombs and improvised explosives.
“Just imagine what damage they could do to the country with such skills.
“They could do a lot of wonders by bombing entertainment outlets, churches and temples.”
He said from intelligence gathered and shared with other intelligence services around the globe, some 96 Malaysians had gone to the Middle East hoping to fight for Isis.
He said “six or seven” had been killed.
Earlier reports stated six Malaysian had died as suicide bombers with a 26-year-old, who reportedly received his military training in Port Dickson, having the dubious honour of being Malaysia’s first Isis suicide bomber.
Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki reportedly drove a military SUV filled with explosives into the Iraqi special weapons and tactics (SWAT) headquarters in al-Anbar in May last year, killing 25 elite Iraqi soldiers.
Wan Junaidi said another 40 militants had been arrested on their return home and were now in detention.
Despite the threat from the militants, the deputy home minister said the situation was “under control”.
“We basically know most of them and are monitoring and keeping them under surveillance.”
Wan Junaidi said when these militants returned, police would normally not arrest them immediately.
He said they would be kept under constant surveillance and their activities monitored.
“Police purposely allow them to go free.
“We don’t just want to arrest one guy. We want their whole network, their contacts, and their sympathisers.”
Source: www.themalaysianinsider.com
