BETONG, March 12: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the arrest of three terror suspects in Serian town is a cause for concern as state security has been breached.
Nonetheless, he was grateful for the apt and fast response of the police.
“We must congratulate PDRM for their efforts and intelligence that had allowed them to identify, zero in and arrest those involved in such activities,” he told a press conference here today.
Abang Johari, who is also chairman of the state security committee, said the alleged activities of the suspects were very detrimental to state security.
“What I want the people to do is to be more cautious and be prepared. We must be weary of foreigners suddenly opening up restaurants in your midst, even if they are wearing the white haji cap.
“It is a matter of perception,” said Abang Johari.
He said in a way, the state security had been breached but the Sarawak government was monitoring the situation.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamad Fauzi Harun revealed recently that an Egyptian and two Malaysians, aged 20 to 54, were arrested in Serian for allegedly harbouring terrorists.
He said the militant opened an Arab restaurant in Serian and, somehow, managed to get a local 42-year-old single mother to marry him to get the spouse visa.
The group had harboured an operative of Ansar Al-Shariah Al Tunisia, responsible for the mass killing of 38 people, mostly British tourists in Sousse,Tunisia, by providing lodging, work and flight tickets.
He cautioned that the Egyptian’s move to open a restaurant and marry for a spouse visa is becoming the modus operandi for foreign terrorist fighters, apart from entering Malaysia while pretending to be businessmen or students coming here for further studies. — DayakDaily
