ISISISIS plotted to kidnap Malaysia’s prime minister, other high officials
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, said Malaysia had foiled a plot by ISIS to kidnap government leaders, including the country’s prime minister. Hamidi to say that jihadists attempted to kidnap him and two other Malaysian officials — including the prime minister Najib Razak and the defense minister, Hishammuddin Hussein.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia’s deputy prime minister, said Malaysia had foiled a plot by ISIS to kidnap government leaders, including the country’s prime minister.
The Strait Times quotes Hamidi to say that jihadists attempted to kidnap him and two other Malaysian officials — including the prime minister Najib Razak and the defense minister, Hishammuddin Hussein.
He added that Malaysia’s anti-terrorism unit, which stopped the plot, also managed to prevent attempts to create chaos in Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya.
“On Jan. 30, 2015, a total of 13 people with ties to Daesh [ISIS] had planned to kidnap the leaders, including the prime minister, home minister and defense minister,” Hamidi said.
According to theStraits Times, he added that police had foiled four attacks planned by ISIS in Malaysia. In one incident, in September 2014, there was a plan by the group to test improvised explosive devices in the northwest state of Kedah. “They also wanted to destroy the Free Mason Lodge in Bukit Jalil.”
He added: “Although there is no proper Daesh (ISIS) establishment in the country, those who were here were being influenced and have been receiving orders from the network in Syria.
“We detected plans to attack several locations in Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, attempt to rob of firearms from army camps, making of explosions, robbing cash-in-transit vans as well as plot to kidnap the country’s leaders for ransom.”
Last week Prime Minister Razak vowed to fight extremism and terrorism in southeast Asia, where officials said ISIS has been working to co-opt local terror groups.
Speaking at a business conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he said that the two countries will remain “inseparable partners” against terror groups that have caused havoc in the Middle East and around the world.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight,” Najib said, according to the Star Online. “And we will never tire in the battle to defend the true, authentic Islam.”
