He said he left the matter to the discretion of the police, armed forces and other enforcement agencies.

“However, this will certainly be opposed by some (parties).

“God willing, we will defend (these amendments) because no matter how much we want a mature country and democracy, one thing we cannot accept is allowing the country to become an arena of extreme factions,” he said.

Anwar said this when launching the “Malaysian action plan on preventing and countering violent extremism” here today.

Anwar said preventive measures against terrorism should also be implemented at the international level.

“We equally support a (shared) focus to ensure effective collaboration between nations.

“When I assume the chairmanship of Asean next year, I will certainly endorse better collaboration among member nations,” he said.

Anwar said collaboration is essential to combat terrorism more effectively, as terrorists today use highly sophisticated weapons and strategies, supported by significant funding and intellectual efforts.

He said their goal is to win the hearts and minds of potential followers while inflicting substantial harm on those they consider enemies.

Malaysia will take the helm of Asean by the end of 2024, succeeding Laos and hosting Asean meetings throughout 2025.