Thirty-six members of a group linked to the Islamic State (IS) from Bangladesh entered Malaysia last year using student, tourist and temporary work visas before being arrested in separate operations, a source said today.
The arrests have raised fresh concerns about gaps in Malaysia’s visa screening procedures, with security analysts urging the government to strengthen immigration controls to prevent future exploitation by extremist groups.
The suspects were apprehended in coordinated tactical raids across Selangor and Johor that began in April.
Authorities believe the group sought to establish a network within its community in Malaysia to raise funds, promote extremist ideology aligned with IS and support efforts to topple the legitimate Bangladeshi government.
“Investigations revealed they entered Malaysia some seven to 10 months ago using various channels to avoid detection,” the source said.
Of those arrested, five have been charged with terrorism offences, 15 have been issued with deportation notices, and 16 remain under investigation.
In Malaysia, individuals arrested for suspected terrorism can be remanded for up to 28 days under the country’s security law, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), without being formally charged.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reaffirmed Malaysia’s zero-tolerance stance against militant activities on its soil.
“Any attempt to make Malaysia an operational base for militant movements or a transit point will be dealt with swiftly, effectively and sternly,” Saifuddin said on Friday.
Bangladesh seeks information
Bangladeshi High Commissioner Md. Shameem Ahsan confirmed that the embassy is in contact with Malaysian authorities regarding the arrests.
“We have seen the press release issued by the Home Ministry of Malaysia and are in touch with the authorities for more specific information on the charges,” he said in a message to Twentytwo13.
He declined to say whether the suspects were members of Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh, a banned organisation known for promoting extremist ideologies considered a threat to national security.
“I have no other comment at this moment,” he said.
Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh is part of a wider Hizbut Tahrir movement, which seeks to establish a global Islamic caliphate. The movement is outlawed in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Germany, the United Kingdom and several Arab nations.
The Bangladesh chapter, banned in 2009, has long been accused of recruiting university students and professionals to promote anti-state narratives and instigate regime change through ideological subversion.
While Hizbut Tahrir has not been officially banned in Malaysia, it operates under close watch by security agencies.
According to media reports, Hizbut Tahrir’s teaching has been declared “deviant” and banned from conducting any public events in Selangor, Sabah and Negeri Sembilan. In Johor, the state religious department continues to monitor the group.
Experts call for tighter screening
The case has renewed calls for Malaysia to strengthen its visa screening procedures, particularly for students and tourist.
Associate Professor Faisol Keling of Universiti Utara Malaysia said Malaysian authorities should consider adopting a more stringent visa screening process, similar to that used by the United States.
The US enforces a multilayered vetting process that includes in-person interviews, biometric checks and interagency background screening.
On June 16, the US State Department expanded its vetting process that requires applicants for student, vocational and exchange visas to submit their social media handles from the past five years and adjust privacy settings to allow public access.
The move aims to detect extremist affiliations or intent before visa issuance.
Faisol said Malaysia’s visa procedures lack comparable tools for reviewing digital footprints or conducting interagency checks.
“We may need to adopt a similar screening mechanism as the US, especially for student and tourist passes, which have been repeatedly exploited,” he told Twentytwo13.
Rueben Dass, senior analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said that while Malaysia has a strong intelligence and security framework, immigration policies must be strengthened.
“As always, ongoing vigilance on the part of the security and border control agencies is key, along with strong intelligence capabilities as the security services have demonstrated.
“The most important thing here is for the relevant agencies to maintain vigilance and not let their guard down, particularly in volatile climates,” he said.
Main image: Malaysia Airports Facebook page
