A Bangladeshi militant group that was recently apprehended in Kuala Lumpur had been collecting funds to support Islamic State (IS) cells in Syria and Bangladesh, according to the country's Inspector-General of Police.
It raised funds using international fund transfer services and e-wallets to send to Islamic State groups in Syria and Bangladesh, Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail added, declining to provide details on the amount raised.
Malaysia relies heavily on foreign labour to fill factory, plantation and construction jobs, with thousands of Bangladeshi nationals moving to the country for work each year.
In a televised press conference, Mohd Khalid said authorities had detained 36 Bangladesh nationals in several operations since April, all of whom had come to Malaysia to work in factories or in sectors like construction and services.
The network recruited members by targeting other Bangladeshi workers, and used social media and online messaging platforms to spread radical and extremist ideologies, Khalid said.
"We are still investigating the total funds collected by the group. We believe they collected funds through membership fees and donations from members," he told reporters in Bukit Aman on Friday.
The group, known as "Gerakan Militan Radical Bangladesh" (GMRB), spread their teachings and recruited members via social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.
"We believe they have between 100 to 150 members in their WhatsApp group. Initial investigations revealed each member is required to pay a RM500 yearly membership fee. However, the amount of donations given is up to the members," he added.
The terror cell recruited members primarily among Bangladeshi migrants in the country.
"Their members are recruited among Bangladeshi labourers, factory workers, and other sectors. Each member is required to perform the 'bai'ah' (oath taking) before being accepted into the terror cell.
"However, each member was carefully screened before the bai'ah could be performed."
The IGP noted that the action taken was necessary to prevent Malaysia from becoming a logistic and transit hub for foreign militants.
"Extreme ideologies spread among the migrant community could eventually lead to subversive activities," he said.
Mohd Khalid stated that the group was dismantled in a massive operation in three phases between April 28 and June 21.
"Thirty-six Bangladeshi men aged between 25 and 35 were detained in raids conducted in Johor and Selangor, including the cell leader.
"We discovered they were not planning any terror attack in Malaysia but were instead focused on recruiting members and spreading IS beliefs and ideologies.
Among those detained, five have been charged with being part of a terrorist organisation, while 15 will be deported. Another 16 remain in police custody pending further investigation, with further arrests expected, Mohd Khalid said.
A total of between 100 and 150 people are suspected to be involved in the network, he said.
Muslim-majority Malaysia has detained hundreds of people for suspected militant activities after a 2016 attack in the capital Kuala Lumpur that was linked to Islamic State, though arrests have largely abated in recent years following a regional crackdown.
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