M
Musashi Miyamoto
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Malaysia detains Singaporean over "militant ties"
Posted: 09 May 2011 2006 hrs
Malaysian police officer stands guard
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police are holding a Singaporean under a tough security law on suspicion of channelling funds to an Islamic militant group in the southern Philippines, officials said Monday.
"Abdul Majid Kunji Mohamad is suspected of funnelling funds and providing logistic (aid) to a militant organisation in southern Philippines," Ismail Omar, inspector general of police, said in a statement.
"Abdul Majid Kunji Mohamad was detained because his involvement will endanger Malaysia's security."
Ismail said Abdul Majid, a businessman who lives in Kuala Lumpur, was arrested May 6 in the capital and is being held under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial.
Director of Operations in-charge of the special task force on counter-terrorism, Mohamed Fuzi Harun, confirmed the arrest and said the authorities are working closely with their counterparts in Singapore and Manila to find out more about the businessman's network. He added that the Singaporean runs a travel agency in Kuala Lumpur.
The director also confirmed it has nothing to do with the Abu Sayyaf Group but a group linked to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Malaysia is assisting the Philippines to broker peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in an effort to end a bloody secessionist war in the restive but mineral-rich region of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines.
A long-running rebellion in the region has left more than 150,000 people dead.
-AFP/CNA/ac
