Malaysia is prepared to share with France, its experience in running the rehabilitation programme for detainees who were Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) militants.
Published: 16 June 2015 8:02 AM
The offer was made by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his meeting with the French ambassador to Malaysia, Cristophe Penot, during the latter’s courtesy call on him at his office in Putrajaya yesterday.
Zahid noted that previous efforts to rehabilitate former communist insurgents in the country were indeed an experience which had differentiated Malaysia from other countries, including France.
“We had the experience of rehabilitating communist terrorists…when the Emergency Law 1948 and then the Internal Security Act 196 (were introduced), which stipulated a rehabilitation plan (for detainees) in terms of ideology and faith.
“This was to ensure that the detainees, after their release, would return to society, lead normal lives and not try to influence others with their ideology,” he said after the meeting with Penot which lasted almost an hour.
On the meeting, Zahid said France also expressed its appreciation for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) for always taking measures to protect French nationals in this country.
He said there were complaints from foreign tourists, including from France, who were victims of street crime.
Zahid said PDRM had given assurance that it would increase police presence in 46 crime hot spots including Bukit Bintang, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Petaling Street, besides beefing its motorcycle patrol unit (URB) to 1,000 members this year.
“It will also install high-definition closed-circuit television cameras to detect criminals in street crime such as snatch theft, for the recordings to be tendered as proof in court cases,” he said.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Nor Rashid Ibrahim, who was also present at the meeting, said PDRM at all times deployed policemen for patrols, besides stationing detectives at the crime hotspots.
“If there are premises that operate 24 hours of the day in the entertainment areas, police have to be there round the clock too,” he said after the meeting. – Bernama, June 16, 2015.