The Star reported today that Malaysian-born IS militant Muhamad Wanndy Mohamad Jedi had personally issued a death threat against Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division head Senior Asst Comm Ayob Khan.
He received the threat via a phone call, allegedly for detaining Wanndy’s older brother in May this year, as well as for his involvement in foiling the group’s plans in Malaysia.
Ayob is not alone as even Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar is on the militant group’s target list.
Ayob said government institutions and police officers, especially those involved in anti-terrorism were targeted by the Iraq and Syria-based terrorists as they were perceived to be a “thagut”, defined as those who have crossed religious boundaries.
“They are regarding us as supportive of thagut and want to attack us first followed by the non-Muslims in the country,” he was quoted as saying by the English daily.
Undaunted by the threat, Ayob said he will continue his fight against IS and will stop any of its attempts to carry out terror attacks in the country.
“We have managed to quell nine plots targeting certain institutions and public areas, so far.
“This would be continued without any fear of any parties linked to terror groups,” he said, according to The Star.
He also said that police’s actions have seen 213 individuals, including 27 foreigners, detained to facilitate their investigations.
Most of these arrests took place in Kedah and Perak (30 each), Kuala Lumpur (28), Johor (19), Selangor (17), Negri Sembilan (13), Kelantan (11), Pahang and Terengganu (eight each), Sabah and Malacca (six each), Penang and Perlis (four each) and Sarawak (two).
Last month, a video published by IS was released online, featuring the first known Malaysian IS fighter in Syria, Mohd Rafi Udin, who urged IS supporters here to stage independent attacks.
Rafi had also threatened to ensure Bukit Aman will no longer have peace.
On June 28, the first IS attack, as declared by the police, was carried out in the country, when a hand grenade was thrown at the Movida club in Puchong. The resulting explosion caused injury to eight individuals.