Malaysia arrests five senior leaders of Islamic cult

Malaysia arrests five senior leaders of Islamic cult

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Five senior leaders of an Islamic
cult accused of planning a "holy war" to topple the Malaysian
government have been arrested under the Internal Security Act,
police said on Wednesday.

Spokesman Superintendent Benjamin Hasbie said a total of 31
members of the Al-Ma'unah sect had now been detained under the
act, which allows indefinite detention without trial.

Army chief Gen. Mohamad Hashim Hussien meanwhile disclosed
that an army major was involved in the cult's raid on military
armories and warned troops to beware of traitors from within.

The Star newspaper reported that cult leader Mohamad Amin
Mohamad Razali appointed the five to head five regions covering
the whole country and neighboring Brunei. It said the five, who
proclaimed themselves khalifah (caliphs), were arrested on Sunday
and Monday after police cracked the cult's leadership code.

Police investigations had shown that the movement planned to
expand overseas but had managed to influence only Brunei.

Al-Ma'unah members looted two army installations in the
northern state of Perak on July 2 but were later cornered in a
jungle hilltop hideout.

The 27-member gang tortured and killed a policeman and a
soldier whom they were holding hostage before surrendering on
July 6 after a standoff with a huge police and military force.

The 27, including Mohamad Amin, are expected to be charged in
court this week with a variety of offenses -- some punishable by
hanging.

Police chief Norian Mai has said cult members planned to use
the Internet to declare jihad (holy war) against the government.
Some members who left the main group after the arms heist used
grenade launchers to attack a brewery and a Hindu temple but
caused little damage.

Norian said the aim was to provoke chaos before declaring over
the Internet that a war for martyrdom had begun.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said the group aimed to
topple his government.

The Malaysian government, worried about mounting criticism and
anti-establishment propaganda on cyberspace, declared on
Wednesday that it would imprison those found spreading lies on
the Internet or using Web sites to make threats.

Under Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act, offenders
could be forced to pay fines of up to 50,000 ringgit ($13,000)
and even jailed for one year, Energy, Communications and
Multimedia Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Chia Kwang Chye was
quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

The government promotes the spread of computers and high-speed
data circuits in its attempt to make Malaysia competitive in an
information age. But increasing Internet access also helps
smaller radical groups to spread their message.

Since Mahathir sacked his popular deputy Anwar Ibrahim in
1998, dozens of pro-Anwar groups have launched their Web sites to
campaign against Mahathir's 19-year rule.

Anwar's supporters have said that will launch an Internet
campaign on his behalf on Thursday, just eight days before a
verdict is due in his second sex trial.

"We will launch the 'Free Anwar Campaign' simultaneously in
Malaysia, Australia, the United Kingdom and in the United States
through the Internet," Raja Petra Kamarudin, director of the
campaign secretariat, told AFP.

A website -- www.freeanwar.com -- has been created to
highlight the goals of the campaign and educate people on the
Anwar saga.

On Wednesday, Gen. Hashim visited the family in Sarawak of the
murdered soldier, Mathew anak Medan, and presented them with
cheques.

"An officer with the rank of major who is a member of the
group had been actively involved in the heist and the group's
activities at their hideout in Bukit Jenalek," Bernama news
agency quoted him as saying.

He did not elaborate. Defense Minister Najib Razak said
earlier this month that one serving officer and two former
soldiers were part of the gang. Newspapers have identified that
officer as an army captain.