PUTRAJAYA: Those engage in terror activities in the name of religion are not the ‘ulama’ or religious scholars, but people who do not have strong religious background.
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, they get involved in such activities because they think they can find a short cut to heaven.
Zahid said, among the findings by a high-level committee on counter terrorism, is that those arrested for their suspected involvement in terror activities in the name of religion are not religious scholars but people without religious background.
“Do not abuse the good name of our sacred religion just to satisfy your involvement in such terror activities,” Zahid told reporters after chairing the high level committee meeting here today as reported by NST.
He added, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and other agencies have also been instructed by the committee to develop a module to counter religious extremism and terrorism.
He added, such measures would be incorporated in the education curriculum at the pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary level.
Relating to the terror activities, Zahid said, Malaysia has improved its ranking by seven places in the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). Malaysia ranks 75th in the 2022 GTI compared to 68th place in 2021.
“In 2022, the country only reported two arrests linked to terrorism activities,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister also warned that although Malaysia has improved its position in the GTI, this does not mean the people should be complacent.
“We must continue to remain vigilant and carry out the necessary preventive measures to uphold the safety of the nation,” he said. –Malaysia World News
