US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks in Malaysia on October 7 (Source: AFP/VNA) The US will establish a regional centre in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur to fight the Islamic State (IS) group’s extremist online propaganda.
US Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed the plan during talks with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Washington two days after the signing of Homeland Security Presidential Directive No 6 (HSPD-6).
Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the regional centre would be similar to one already established by the US in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Studies showed that social media is a key medium used by IS in attracting fighters, particularly in Syria and Iraq.
According to Malaysian officials, social media accounts for 87 percent of those who are influenced and attracted by terrorist groups.
The Malaysian news agency Bernama wrote that under the HSPD-6 document, the US would share information with Malaysia about 86,000 suspected terrorists in a Washington-based database.
Malaysia would also provide information about suspected terrorists held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) introduced in April this year, which enables authorities to detain terror suspects without trial for a period of two years.-VNA
