Intelligence led to arrest of suspected Sabah militants, says IGP

(The Malaysian Insider) – The arrest of 13 suspected militants in Sabah earlier this week was the result of both internal and foreign intelligence received by the police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar was reported by Bernama Online as saying today.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) told the news portal he had acted as soon as the police had received the intelligence because it was an issue of security that could possibly threaten other countries in the region.

He added he had acted in accordance with current laws that are relevant to the case and that he had briefed Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein on the matter.

When asked to comment on a statement by Sabah PAS commissioner Mohd Aminuddin Aling in which he asked the police to clarify the circumstances surrounding the arrests, Ismail stressed that the move was a pre-emptive measure conducted in the interest of national security.

The IGP announced yesterday that seven Malaysians and six foreigners were arrested in Sabah on Monday under Section 73(1) of the Internal Security Act to thwart their alleged efforts at reviving a militant movement in the state.

The police have not disclosed the identity of the militant movement.

Bernama Online reported, however, an English daily has linked the individuals to the Abu Omar group, which is better known as the Kaltim group that uses Kalimantan as its base.

According to the daily, the group was using Tawau as a transit point to amass firearms procured from south Philippines.