JI attack an isolated case, says expert

Chasseur Group executive director Munira Mustaffa told Singapore based CNA yesterday the attack on Ulu Tiram police station is an isolated case by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group in Malaysia.

Chasseur Group is a security research and analytical consulting firm.

“I think it is more likely isolated because from what we know so far, his connection to the group is via his father. His father was a former JI member. Whether or not he is a member of JI, that remains to be seen. But it is looking unlikely based on preliminary investigation reports

“The leadership has changed in 2009 with Para Wijayanto.

“With Para Wijayanto being arrested in 2019 and is in custody of the police in Indonesia. His directive is there is a moratorium on terror attack, on violent action and they have moved more towards non-violent actions.

“They have tried to legitimise themselves in other ways but that has been hampered by Densus 88 in Indonesia,” said Munira who is a counter terrorism expert.

Densus 88 is the anti terrorist unit of the Indonesian police squad.

Abdullah Sungkar and Abu Bakar Bashir from Indonesia had fled their nation to Ulu Tiram in Johor previously in 1993. They formed JI in the same year to establish an Islamic state that include Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia Brunei and the southern Philippines.

Abdullah set up an Islamic school in Ulu Tiram to recruit JI members and spread radical Islam. It was eventually shutdown by the police.

JI has links with Al-Qaeda.

The last known terror attack in Malaysia was the attack on Movida in Puchong in the year 2016.

READ: Be vigilant, Malaysia bound Singaporeans told

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