Senator Roger F Wicker, Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, also praised Prime Minister Najib Razak and the Malaysian Government on its efforts to counter extremism.
In the letter, Wicker, who has represented Mississippi since December 2007, says he is pleased with the US State Department’s collaboration with Malaysia to counter terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State, that use social media as a means of recruitment.
“In an increasingly dangerous world, the partnership between the United States and Malaysia has never been more important.
“Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Government have a strong record of rejecting all forms of religious extremism and working with the global Muslim community to counter the efforts of radical extremism,” Wicker says.
Wicker is happy with the setting up of the regional Digital Counter-Messaging Communications Centre within Malaysia’s Southeast Asia Centre for Counter-Terrorism.
He notes that this is to curb the influence of the Islamic State in the cyber world and complements Malaysian efforts to de-radicalise and rehabilitate those who are susceptible to radical ideology.
Wicker, who sits on various committees, such as the Senate Armed Services Committee, says he is also encouraged by the State Department’s Global Engagement Centre deepening its partnership with Malaysia to reduce terrorist usage of the internet as a potential recruitment tool.
“This collaboration between our two countries should improve counter-messaging efforts abroad and highlight Malaysia as an example in the digital fight against radical extremism.”
He says the new counter-messaging centre is vital to combat the global war on terror.
He urges Kerry to continue to nurture Malaysia’s efforts to defeat extremism at home and abroad.