Deputy Home Minister Masir Kujat said 240 had recruited members via Facebook, eight through Twitter and one through Instagram.

“Some 3,871 Facebook accounts were also monitored with 800 accounts blocked. On Twitter, 76 individuals were monitored and nine accounts blocked while on Instagram, 72 individuals are being monitored,” he told the Dewan Rakyat here today.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) on the government’s efforts to curb the spread of terrorism on social media.

When replying Shabudin’s original question earlier, Masir said to date, 19 individuals including a foreigner were undergoing a deradicalisation programme under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota).

The deradicalisation programme is based on a module that covers several aspects including religion, psychology, family and moral values.

“The success of this programme will soon be seen as the released prisoners will return to the community and be no longer involved with terrorism,” he said.

To ensure the success of the programme, he said, the module was constantly reviewed and improved with cooperation with international parties through conferences and meetings to raise awareness and curb terrorism.