KUALA BERANG — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has confirmed that no Malaysian nationals were involved in a foreign militant network recently uncovered by authorities, which has been linked to Bangladeshi citizens.
He said investigations by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Special Branch found that the group comprised solely Bangladeshi nationals and was driven by extremist ideology rooted in Islamic State (IS) beliefs.
“Their activities focused on violent extremism with the aim of toppling the government in their country of origin, Bangladesh,” he told reporters after launching the Kampung Angkat Madani and Sekolah Angkat Madani programmes under the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) 2025 initiative at the Hulu Terengganu District Council Hall.
Saifuddin stressed the importance of public awareness, adding: “Our security forces remain on high alert. If such activities are not dealt with firmly, they could pose a serious threat to national security.”
He had earlier revealed that the foreign militant network was dismantled following the arrest of 36 Bangladeshi nationals believed to be directly involved in the movement. The arrests were carried out in Selangor and Johor as part of a three-phase security operation that began on April 24.
In a separate development, Saifuddin announced that the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) will soon undergo a structural revamp to improve its operational effectiveness, with the Royal Malaysia Police taking the lead role, supported by other key agencies.
“Previously, oversight was shared among four agencies — the police, Bank Negara, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), and others — which led to some operational shortcomings.
“Under the new arrangement, the police will receive scam reports directly, record the relevant details, and immediately alert the respective banks to freeze the victim’s account. Efforts to recover the stolen funds will follow promptly,” he said.
The restructuring will also see the NSRC’s 997 hotline operating around the clock, enabling victims to lodge reports at any time. Additional staff will be recruited to improve response times and support for victims.
Saifuddin added that the proposed improvements have been approved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and will be implemented soon. — June 29, 2025