SINGAPORE, Feb 10 — A 34-year-old self-radicalised Malaysian was arrested under Singapore’s Internal Security Act (ISA) in November last year, according to the Internal Security Department (ISD).
It said Saharuddin Saari, who had been working as a cleaner in Singapore, had his work pass cancelled and was repatriated to Malaysia after the completion of the investigation.
He was handed over to the Royal Malaysian Police's Special Branch (MSB) in November 2024.
In a statement today, the ISD said Saharuddin wanted to travel to overseas conflict zones including Syria and Gaza to engage in armed violence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs agency added that he had no specific attack plans against Singapore, nor had he radicalised anyone in the country.
However, Saharuddin was willing to undertake acts of violence in Singapore should he perceive the country as siding with the enemies of Islam.
The ISD had worked closely with the MSB on the investigation.
It noted that Saharuddin’s path to radicalisation began in 2014 when he encountered online materials about the conflict in Syria and the groups involved.
Sometime in 2015 and 2016, an online contact who identified himself as a fighter advised Saharuddin to take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Turkiye and offered to escort him by land from Turkiye to Syria.
“Saharuddin did not proceed with his travel plans, primarily due to a lack of sufficient funds,” said the ISD.
— Bernama
