SINGAPORE: Johor’s Islamic Religious Department has announced plans to increase surveillance over alleged deviant teachings in the area following an attack on a police station in Johor Bahru’s Ulu Tiram which left two cops dead and one injured on Friday (May 17).
“There is a special committee to monitor the spread of deviant teachings … and all decisions will be brought to the Johor State Islamic Religious Council,” said Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid on Sunday, as quoted in local media.
He added that every report would be investigated and reviewed before deciding if the teachings were deviationist or not, and that the public “should not worry.”
Mr Mohd Fared also explained that Ulu Tiram would not be the only area attracting the committee’s attention.
“We will pay close attention to Ulu Tiram, but that does not mean we will reduce monitoring in other locations. We will just give extra focus there,” he said.
At around 2.45 am on Friday, a police officer was fatally stabbed by a 21-year-old man who entered the station wielding a machete.
He attacked the police officer near the station’s entrance, taking his pistol, said Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Razarudin Husain at a press conference shortly after the event.
He added that a firefight then ensued at the car park area of the station between the attacker and police officers, which resulted in the death of another officer.
The suspect was also fatally shot in the exchange.
At the press conference on Friday, Mr Razarudin added that the police found evidence that the suspect was a member of JI.
This was based on items found in his bag, which he used as a shield. There were zinc sheets and paper inside, according to Mr Razarudin.
He added that investigations at the suspect’s house also found texts pasted on the walls.
Police said that they were tracking down more than 20 people believed to be members of the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah.
However, authorities later concluded that the suspect acted on his own, after interviewing 46 people who were flagged in their database as persons of interest.
“The suspect is not affiliated with any terrorist groups and has no connection to JI. He is not involved in terrorism,” Mr Razarudin was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama, on Saturday.
NO NEED FOR SPECULATION: DEPUTY WORKS MINISTER
A day later, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan urged the public not to speculate over the fatal event, citing the risks it could bring to the area’s status as an important investment hub and international gateway.
“It is a shocking incident, but at the same time, there is no need to come to conclusions.
“Do not create any speculation that could scare away future investments and tourists from coming into our country,” he said, cited in The Star.
“I also believe in the wisdom of our enforcement agencies in carrying out investigations, so we leave it to them.”
Mr Ahmad, who is a supreme council member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) – the once-dominant Malay-based party – also warned members to be mindful of their statements on the matter.
“Speculation will only make things worse … we want people, especially investors and tourists, to come into our state,” he said.
The Deputy Works Minister was speaking just after the launch of the Construction Industry Development Board’s Digital Construction Competency Skill Centre.
VICTIMS OF THE FATAL FRIDAY ATTACK
The two deceased officers were Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi and Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said. Another police officer, Mohd Hasif Roslan, who was injured in the attack, is in a stable condition at Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Bahru.
Constable Ahmad Azza was buried on Saturday evening, with over 1,000 people attending the funeral procession, according to the Malay Mail news site.
Head of the Pahang state government, Mr Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, has said that the Pahang government will contribute RM8,000 (US$1,707) to the next of kin of Constable Muhamad Syafiq, according to the New Straits Times.
Police arrested five family members of the suspect, aged 19 to 62, along with two other individuals, all of whom have been remanded for seven days to assist with the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
