SHANGHAI (May 27): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has asked the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to double its surveillance and monitoring of online information to address any threat of terrorist activities.

Zahid, who is also National Security Council deputy chairman, said this following the disclosure by the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) that terrorist groups are now using online video games to recruit youth to join their movement.

“Don't take (the matter) lightly, even though we know it (terrorist activity) is under control in Malaysia,” he told the Malaysian media, after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreement and letter of intent, respectively, between SKS Coach Builders Sdn Bhd (SKS) and CRRC Corporation; Mara Liner and SKS; as well as Mara Corp and China Electrical Equipment Group, here Monday.

Zahid, who is also the minister of rural and regional development, expressed his confidence that PDRM, through the Special Branch Counter Terrorism Unit, has the ability to intensify monitoring of terrorist activities and take appropriate action.

“It is not easy to monitor, but the PDRM has the ability to monitor, and of course, Aseanapol (Asean Police), by doubling their monitoring and surveillance programmes.

“We see this capability in line with the Pota (Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015), which was tabled when I served as the home minister before, and Pota will be fully used for the implementation of control, so that strict monitoring can be carried out,” he said, adding that PDRM should consolidate efforts with the International Police (Interpol), so that this can be addressed comprehensively.

Apart from that, he said that Malaysia has a deradicalisation manual, for rehabilitation purposes, since 2015 and the country has been very successful in its implementation.

“Malaysia also cooperates with many countries which do joint ventures, in addition to sharing manuals with many other countries, because we have wider experience when facing the communist threat in the 1940s to the late 1960s,” he said.

Zahid said that Malaysia has also established cooperation with counter-terrorism organisations at an international level, as part of efforts to address this threat.

“We are ready to work with all countries which have the same training facilities and equipment and experience to combat terrorism, because this problem is not limited to a particular country, but rather throughout the world,” said Zahid.