KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Malaysia’s security and legal frameworks must continuously adapt to counter the evolving threats of terrorism and violent extremism, particularly as digital platforms accelerate online radicalisation among younger people.
Universiti Malaya criminologist and senior lecturer Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid said that while Malaysia has dedicated security laws, its counter-terrorism strategies must also focus on proactive engagement alongside legal enforcement.
"When we talk about countering terrorism at the moment, what we have are specific laws on terrorism and terrorism-related offences. Even though we know that people who want to commit crime are always a step ahead, we do have laws, but we still need to fine-tune certain areas," she said.
Haezreena was speaking during a panel discussion titled 'Adapting Malaysia’s Counterterrorism and Preventing and Countering Violence Extremism Response: Progress, Challenges and Reform Priorities’, organised by INITATE.MY today.
She added that extremist recruitment methods have rapidly shifted away from traditional channels to modern digital platforms, requiring updated preventive measures to protect vulnerable groups.
"Recruitment has now been absorbed into various platforms. They use encrypted communications, cryptocurrency, online gaming, and all sorts of methods that we can think of or cannot even think of.
"The entry into crime can now be as early as even before 12 years old," Haezreena said.
To mitigate these emerging risks, a holistic strategy centred on early intervention, youth protection, and community engagement was essential, rather than relying solely on judicial punishment.
Meanwhile, the Prisons Department's academic planning and higher education unit head Supt Muhammad Shafiq Mohd Sarif said their rehabilitation programmes include psychological rehabilitation and religious re-education carried out in collaboration with government agencies.
"We have recorded zero return cases for inmates involving terrorism offences back to prison," he said.
Managing younger inmates exposed to digital platforms requires modern educational approaches and continuous skills training to ensure their effective reintegration into society upon release.
"To manage this new demographic, we implement proactive shifts such as integrating digital literacy and continuing education in prison schools using the Ministry of Education syllabus to ensure inmates build character and skills for survival after release," Shafiq said.
