Saifuddin: Three in FBI list not involved with terrorism
Published: Feb 21, 2024 4:02 PM
The Home Ministry today confirmed that the three Islamic NGO leaders on the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Terrorist Screening Center list were not linked to terrorism.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said checks revealed that the three individuals were among 359 members from 59 local NGOs that mobilised humanitarian aid in Gaza, Palestine.
"Of course, we will check on the individuals involved so that there is no problem at the level when they (NGOs) conduct operations there (in Gaza).
"Based on our review of all NGOs involved in Op Ihsan and police records of all 359 individuals, none were involved in terrorism," Saifuddin (above) told reporters in Putrajaya.
Previously, one of the three individuals - Abu Bakar Abdul - said he was baffled when the FBI linked him to terrorism.
Abu Bakar is the general manager of an NGO called Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam.
Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam general manager Abu Bakar Abdul
He had discovered the matter through friends, who had informed him after viewing copies of a letter from the Foreign Ministry's West Asia Division.
The letter to Ops Ihsan secretariat chairperson Jismi Johari was intended to notify him about the three individuals on the FBI list.
Ops Ihsan was envisioned by former foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir as a collaboration platform between the Foreign Ministry and NGOs to mobilise support and humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the US is drafting a bill aimed at blocking international funding for Hamas.
Having said that, he stressed that Malaysia does not necessarily follow the FBI's guidance on the issue of preventing terrorism.
He had discovered the matter through friends, who had informed him after viewing copies of a letter from the Foreign Ministry's West Asia Division.
The letter to Ops Ihsan secretariat chairperson Jismi Johari was intended to notify him about the three individuals on the FBI list.
Ops Ihsan was envisioned by former foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir as a collaboration platform between the Foreign Ministry and NGOs to mobilise support and humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the US is drafting a bill aimed at blocking international funding for Hamas.
Having said that, he stressed that Malaysia does not necessarily follow the FBI's guidance on the issue of preventing terrorism.
The three are small fry
ReplyDeleteBut if they have been instrumental in funneling funds to Hamas, the Malaysian banks or other institutions that enable the funds transfers could find themselves in Hot Water.
US Treasury has long arms and can severely damage the finances of any bank or institutions handling international business if they are sanctioned.