Malaysia's arms heist
Malaysian police continue to hunt for more members of the Al- Ma'unah Islamic cult following a daring arms theft on July 2 by the organization's firebrands.
The incident itself has stunned Malaysia's neighbors, especially those grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Of particular concern is the sloppiness of the Malaysian security system. Another incident that demonstrates the vulnerability of the system was the kidnapping of 21 mostly foreign tourists by the Philippine-based Abu Sayaf militants on April 23 from the resort island of Sipadan, which is under Malaysia's control.
It is truly unbelievable that the guards at the army camps in the northern state of Perak could be easily tricked and subdued by 15 members of Al-Mau'nah who posed as army officers and carted away more than 100 weapons, including M-16 and Styer rifles, grenade launchers and rounds of ammunition, from the two arsenals.
The cult members then fled into the forest, taking four hostages with them. They surrendered last Thursday after the government security forces issued an ultimatum to end the five- day standoff, but not before killing two non-Muslim hostages and sparing the other two, who are Muslims.
Followers of Al-Mau'nah, according to news reports, are taught that they have supernatural powers that make them invulnerable to weapons. The daring arms theft has given rise to speculation that the militants had planned to attack the supreme council meeting of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's United Malays National Organization party -- the biggest faction in the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition -- in Perak's state capital of Ipoh.
The Malaysian government, trying to repair the damaged image of its security system, pledged on Monday that it would take firm measures against deviationist Islamic groups that try to create instability in the country.
Thirty-nine suspects, including the 15 who raided the arms depots, have already been detained and questioned and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Monday that the government would "continue to monitor cult activities and take appropriate action to ensure national security, peace and stability".
Analysts here believe that the resurgence of militant groups and cults in several Asian countries -- like the Falungong organization in China, the heightening activities of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines and the Free Aceh Movement in Indonesia -- have partly been prompted by the sluggish response of their governments to the winds of change that have swept the region in recent years. Change that calls for greater democratization, equal distribution of wealth and freedom of speech and expression.
In the case of Malaysia, where political discontent surfaced two years ago following the firing of former deputy prime minister and reformist Anwar Ibrahim, whose controversial trial and imprisonment last year triggered violent protests, the Kuala Lumpur government has thus far been able to avoid sectarian violence and outbreaks of riots partly because of its success in overcoming its economic crisis and partly because of its relatively small population of 22 million compared to Indonesia's 220 million.
Last week's arms theft, obviously, is like a wake-up call to the Kuala Lumpur government in that it should improve its security system and deal firmly with militants who wish to make Malaysia an Islamic state. Unless Malaysia takes firm measures against hatred-sowing radicals, it will be difficult for the country to maintain the racial harmony and national stability it has successfully nurtured so far.
In doing so, however, it is expected that the Malaysian government will not use its Internal Security Act to suppress political dissidents, a fear that has been voiced by opposition parties like Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Islam se-Malaysia, whose Mahfuz Omar lawmaker has clearly said that: "We condemn violence. We hold to democratic ways to bring political changes. We never abuse Islam."
ASEAN member countries, meanwhile, are expected to be more active in lending a hand to fellow members whose countries are rocked by sectarian violence or acts of terrorism so that the ASEAN cooperation can become more cohesive and effective. Not only mere resolutions are needed but action, because action speaks louder than words.