“They apparently find the meaning of life after ending it,” says Maszlee Malik of the International Islamic University Malaysia.
He was explaining what made Malaysians join Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups.
“Before this, they find their lives meaningless and of no use. When they join terrorist groups, they are given hope and a purpose in life.
“Since this life has no meaning for them, they figure by blowing themselves up, they are fulfilling the jihad, their new purpose in life,” said Maszlee.
Speaking to FMT, he said Malaysia lacked a conducive environment which offered hope and support, and that people who joined terrorist groups were in search of these elements to fulfil their purpose in life.
“The younger people are losing hope in life. Those who join want to be regarded as heroes and be regarded as someone important,” he said, adding that the younger generation was more inclined to participate in terrorist groups.
The vast majority of these terrorists had a job before joining Islamic militant organisations.
Surprisingly, those offering to become suicide bombers ranked, on average, in the more educated group.
Maszlee said Malaysia should create an environment which promoted hope and support instead of focusing on punishment and being judgmental.
“We should promote the discourse of love to make the life of other people more meaningful,” he added, claiming that this was another way of preventing younger generations from joining terrorist groups such as IS.
Maszlee claimed the participation of educated individuals was declining now compared with previous recruitments where educated figures could be seen leading most terrorist groups.
“There is a drastic decline in the participation of educated figures in IS.
“That could be the reason why Mahmud Ahmad is now seen as a potential leader.”
Maszlee was referring to a recent report about Mahmud, a former Universiti Malaya lecturer, who received training from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Mahmud is expected to emerge as IS’s official commander for Southeast Asia.
Mahmud has been cited by intelligence sources as being behind a plan to form an IS faction in the region by bringing together extremist groups in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, according to a report in The Star Online.
He is currently in the southern Philippines where he is believed to be actively participating in the activities of Islamist radical groups there.
The report said Mahmud was being eyed by IS to take over from Isnilon Hapilon, leader of the radical Abu Sayyaf militia, in creating and commanding the Middle East-based terror movement’s stronghold in Southeast Asia.
Isnilon, who was declared as the Emir of the IS forces in the Philippines early last year, was severely injured in an aerial attack in Basilan two months back, it said.