From Malaysia to the Philippines, what are the most serious terror threats in Southeast Asia 20 years after 9/11?
- In Indonesia and the southern Philippines, security agencies are most concerned by groups linked to al-Qaeda and Isis
- In Malaysia, however, an official has warned that religious and ethnically motivated violent extremism is the most significant danger the country faces
The comments from officials and analysts came as This Week in Asia asked security agencies in the region about the most serious terror threats they faced 20 years after September 11.
The response from Malaysia was starkly different, and drew attention to the sensitive issues of race and religion that in recent years have been increasingly prominent in the country’s political rhetoric.
“The biggest terror threat in Malaysia can be categorised under religious and ethnically motivated violent extremism which eventually sparks ethno-nationalistic division that may lead to violent incidents,” said the counterterrorism official, who declined to be named.
“It is not recommended for political leaders to play to their galleries along religious and ethnic lines, even if that is what their constituents want so much to listen to.”
The echo chamber effect created by these politicians radicalised their audience and created more far-right extremists, the official said, which did not augur well for the multireligious and multiracial country. “If left untreated, this will be cancerous to national unity and much-needed nation building in Malaysia.”