GOMBAK - Around 50 Malaysian Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria and Iraq want to return home, according to Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.
The nation’s top cop warned that while the government would facilitate their return to Malaysia, action would be taken against these militants for breaking the law.
“As a country responsible to its people, police will help them if there is a way as they are our citizens.
“Although some of them have burned their passports, many of them want to come back.
“If they return to Syria, they will be killed,” Khalid said at a press conference at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) today.
Earlier this year, Special Branch Commissioner Mohamad Fuzi Harun had revealed that there were 47 Malaysians – 12 of them women — based in Syria and Iraq, who were currently fighting for the terror group.
He said there were as many as 55 people from Malaysia who went to join IS recently, but eight have either returned to the country, been arrested or been charged in court.
Last month, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein revealed he had received intelligence on possible escape plans of IS militants, who were being attacked by Iraqi forces outside Mosul.
He said the militants in Iraq and Syria were expected to flee to other countries like Malaysia.
By Blake Chen