ISIS-linked terrorist planned to kill Malaysian king

A Malaysian man who allegedly plotted the assassination of the nation’s monarch and prime minister was among seven suspected Islamic State militants arrested in an anti-terrorism swoop recently, police said.

The Inspector General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the man was part of a group of four Malaysians and three Indonesians who were nabbed in four states in an operation held between July 12 and July 17, The Star reported.

Fuzi said the 34-year-old man threatened to kill the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

“He had posted the threat on Facebook as he sees the King and Malaysian leaders as ‘thagut’ (overboard).

“He feels that they are not governing the country based on Islamic teachings,” the IGP said.

Dr Mahathir, who formed Malaysia’s new government following the shock election victory on May 9, had recently appointed Mujahid to handle Islamic affairs to “focus on formulating a more inclusive and progressive policy” in the predominantly Muslim country.

The move includes making the Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) more “tolerant” in its handling of Islamic-related matters in the country.

The two other arrests, Mohamad Fuzi said, involved a 42-year-old Malaysian man and 24-year-old Malaysian woman in Johor on July 16.

“The woman transferred RM4,000 to militant Muhammad Nasrullah Latif, also known as Abu Gomez, who was killed in Syria earlier this year.

Mohamad Fuzi added Muhammad Nasrullah announced his plans to launch attacks in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines after the recent Hari Raya (Eid) celebrations.

“The 42-year-old Malaysian man was also in close contact with militant leader Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi, who has also been killed in Syria,” he said.

Source: Asian Correspondent