Govt To Develop New Mechanism To Vet Foreign Students From Spreading Radicalism

By Nor Baizura Basri KLUANG, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The government will develop a new mechanism to screen foreign students who plan to further their studies in the country to ensure they will not involve or become agents of radical ideologies that can lead to terrorism-related activities. Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) Special Branch (Middle East/West Asia/African Continent Militant Group Desk) staff officer Supt Ahmad Norisham Ma'arus said a proposal was made to develop the new mechanism in the government's bid to curb the spread of militant group ideologies and threats such as Daesh, in the country. "Due to terrorism-related incidents in Dhaka, Bangladesh in July this year, the Higher Education Ministry (KPT) has come out with a statement to discuss with us (RMP) how to address the issues concerning foreign students. "(We see) there are mechanisms (that can be done) to study and prevent the spread of radical ideologies by the foreign students," he told Bernama after attending a Seminar on Addressing Extremism and Radicalism Threats at the Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) Southern Region campus here Wednesday. Ahmad Norisham said although the mechanism was still at the discussion stage, it would be able to help the ministry and other relevant agencies, especially the authorities, to curb such activities. He said some of these students were detained for their involvement in terrorism-related activities. In the July 1, incident in Dhaka, more than 20 civilians were killed following an attack on a cafe in the city. Four days later, KPT issued a statement that investigations would be conducted after allegations surfaced that one or more suspects involved in the terrorist attacks could have been students of a private university in Malaysia in the past. Subsequently Malaysian Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh said the ministry would work with the Home Ministry to implement a system that imposed regulations on students at higher learning institutions, especially foreign students, to monitor their militant activities. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had reportedly said the screening of foreigners would be done via the Advance Passenger Screening System (APSS) to curb the influx of militants masquerading as students. Earlier during a question-and-answer session with civil servants, Ahmad Norisham who was also one of the panelists at the seminar said KPT was now prepared to pose stringent checks on foreign students in the country. He also said 239 individuals had been detained from February 2013 until July this year for their alleged involvement in militant and terrorism-related activities. Of the number, 102 suspects had been prosecuted, Ahmad Norisham added. The seminar, attended by 700 civil servants in the southern region, was officiated by Johor Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohamad Aziz. -- BERNAMA