Don't be complacent, militant threat never ends: Ayob Khan

Malaysian police officers and members of the Counter Terrorism Division (E8) must remain vigilant against the persistent and evolving threat of terrorism and extremism. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay emphasized that the landscape of terror has shifted dramatically, with militant groups abandoning traditional recruitment methods for online platforms to influence younger generations.

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If we are passive and only act reactively, not proactively, attacks can happen in Malaysia. That is why the E8 Division and other divisions cannot be complacent.

Ayob Khan stated that if the E8 division and related units become passive and only react to threats, attacks could occur in Malaysia. He stressed that a proactive approach is crucial, as any attack would signify an intelligence failure. The methods employed by extremist groups are becoming increasingly difficult to detect as they exploit various digital mediums, including online gaming, to recruit new members.

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Now everything is done online. They use games like Roblox and various other platforms as a medium to connect and recruit individuals.

"Everything is done online now. They use games like Roblox and various other platforms as a medium to connect and recruit individuals," Ayob Khan explained. He noted that the current threat landscape is not solely based on religion or ideology as in the past. "Sometimes, anger arises to carry out attacks, and they act on it. The pattern of threats and their modus operandi have indeed changed," he added, citing recent arrests of teenagers involved in extremism as evidence of this shift.

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Sometimes, anger arises to carry out attacks, and they act on it. The pattern of threats and their modus operandi have indeed changed.