Malaysia’s public safety and security in the same league as Pakistan?
By Ng Kee Seng
TheAntDaily.com
The world’s most populous Muslim country has learnt its lessons well after that disaster.
Today, its economy is forging ahead much faster than Malaysia, attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) with ease.
Although Indonesia was also included in a French travel advisory list to be vigilant over Islamic State (IS) threats, the inclusion of Malaysia must be shocking.
On Sept 27, The Malay Mail reported that France has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to be vigilant in several countries, including Malaysia over fears of a threat from IS militants.
The advisory comes after French tourist Hervé Gourdel was beheaded in Algeria on Sept 24 by terrorists claiming to belong to IS, and as local police intelligence revealed that Malaysian nationals are among those who have travelled to Syria to join the terror group.
Malaysia is now also touted as a training ground for armed militants for terror.
In a posting on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Sept 25, French authorities advised its citizens residing in or passing through Malaysia to be extra-vigilant.
This was due to the risk of kidnappings and “hostile” acts against those from France and other member countries, which is a member of an international coalition against the “Daech”, the ministry said on its travel advice page.
“Daech” is the French spelling for the Arabic-derived term “Daesh”, which the French government started using last week to call IS.
The ministry also said that French citizens living overseas should notify the nearest French consulate, while those travelling were asked to register themselves using a specific system.
In the ministry’s Sept 23 statement titled “French citizens abroad — Safety”, Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius was quoted saying that about 30 French embassies have been asked to “urge “ compatriots who are living or travelling abroad to increase their vigilance in the face of the terrorist threat.
The statement did not name the location of the embassies.
But on Sept 25, a report carried on French news channel BFM TV’s website cited a diplomatic source as saying that 11 countries have been added to France’s watch list, including Muslim-majority nations Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, and the Philippines.
The website of the French Embassy in Malaysia did not appear to carry the travel advisory on Sept 26 night.
Malaysia has designated IS a terrorist group but religious authorities and bigots, including those in the Prime Minister’s Department, are fighting shy of criticising or condemning IS.
The IS was formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
On Aug 11, Malaysian police revealed that local jihadists who joined IS were now training their sights on Putrajaya.
A senior Malaysian police official was reported as saying that suspected jihadists had planned attacks on entertainment venues in Kuala Lumpur and a Carlsberg factory in Petaling Jaya.
Why is Malaysia’s international security and safety status lumped in the same league as Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines?
The federal government must immediately take measures to redeem the country’s pride as a safe destination for tourists.
It cannot do so by living in a world of its own, refusing to face reality, indulge in hypocrisy statements and actions.
Malaysia’s international reputation as a united and peaceful model nation for tourists is now hanging in the balance.
What do the religious bigots and the federal government want?
