In a shocking turn of events, at least 70 military personnel from Malaysia have been reported to have joined ISIS. This was announced by the Defense Minister, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri in a Malaysian parliamentary session.
Abdul Rahim further pointed that the army was monitoring the situation and investigations had been launched. Additionally, he said that, “If army personnel are found to embrace elements of ISIS, the army and police will cooperate in our efforts to counsel them and restore their faith in accordance with proper teachings.”
The report was contradictory to Abdul Rahim’s previous statement that denied any soldiers and military veteran joining ISIS despite the police saying otherwise.
In a bid to combat the trend, the Malaysian Army has intensified its security process for recruitment of soldiers that include thorough background checks that are cross referenced with the police and National Registration Department databases.
The current buzz of the Malaysian soldiers joining ISIS was spiraled by an ISIS video showing the beheading of a Syrian that involved two Malaysians whose affiliation to the military was not determined.
The age of those said to have joined ISIS wasn’t disclosed but was preceded by a warning in February by Abdul Rahim on methods parents can apply to prevent the Malaysian youth from joining the militants.
