Malaysia’s police chief says authorities in the country have dismantled a network among Bangladeshi expatriate workers in the country that used social media to spread extremist ideology and raise funds for the Islamic State militant group, according to media reports.
In a televised press conference, Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said authorities had detained 36 Bangladesh nationals in several operations since April, all of whom had come to Malaysia to work in factories or in sectors like construction and services, Reuters reports.
The "Gerakan Militan Radical Bangladesh" (GMRB) group spread teachings and recruited members on social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, according to Malaysian publication The Star.
"We believe they have between 100 to 150 members in their WhatsApp group. Initial investigations revealed each member is required to pay a RM500 yearly membership fee. However, the amount of donations given is up to the members," Khalid said on Friday during the press conference.
"We are still investigating the total funds collected by the group. We believe they collected funds through membership fees and donations from members.”
The funds, often raised through international fund transfer services and e-wallets, were sent to Islamic State groups in Syria and Bangladesh, Khalid claimed.
The police chief added that the network recruited members primary among Bangladeshi expatriates and that law enforcers are working with Interpol and counterparts in other countries to uncover the “terror network”.
"Their members are recruited among Bangladeshi labourers, factory workers, and other sectors. Each member is required to perform the `bai`ah` (oath taking) before being accepted into the terror cell,” he said.
"Extreme ideologies spread among the migrant community could eventually lead to subversive activities.”
The police chief added that the group was dismantled in a major operation in three phases between Apr 28 and Jun 21.
"Thirty-six Bangladeshi men aged between 25 and 35 were detained in raids conducted in Johor and Selangor, including the cell leader.
"We discovered they were not planning any terror attack in Malaysia but were instead focused on recruiting members and spreading IS beliefs and ideologies.”
Five of the detainees have been charged, 15 have been handed over to immigration authorities, and the remaining 16 are still being investigated, Khalid said.
"We will deport those with minimal involvement back to their home country, while those with greater involvement will be charged under Malaysian laws," he said.
Since a 2016 militant attack in Kuala Lumpur linked to the Islamic State, Muslim-majority Malaysia has detained hundreds for suspected militant activities, Reuters reports. Arrests have largely abated recently after a regional crackdown.
The country is heavily reliant on foreign labour to fill factory, plantation and construction jobs, with thousands of Bangladeshi nationals moving to the country for work each year, Reuters says.
