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.