KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian and Indonesian militants are believed to have joined forces to form a cell under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), Sinar Harian Online reported yesterday.

The cell, named “Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah”, uses Bahasa Indonesia/Malaysia as its official language.

Sinar Harian Online quoted a Bukit Aman source as saying that cell members had been sent to Afghanistan and the Middle East to undergo military training.

“Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah, or Malay Archipelago Unit for the Islamic State, is one of the Isis cells in the Middle East. It is understood the unit was formed as many members had trouble communicating in English or Arabic with other Isis members.”

The source said militant members of the cell provided financial facilities for those wanting to fight under the Isis banner.

“Investigations show that more than 50 Malaysians and 200 Indonesians have joined Isis in the Middle East. Many of them have entered Syria via Turkey and Jordan,” the Bahasa Malaysia portal quoted the source as saying.

Troubled by the number of Malaysians involved in militant activities, Putrajaya has proposed introducing a new anti-terror law.

Presently, the authorities are using the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) to curb militant activities.

However, police have expressed reservations about the effectiveness of Sosma, especially as the burden of proof lies with them. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 24, 2014.