PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has improved its ranking on the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Malaysia was placed 75th on the latest ranking of the 2022 index, compared to 68th in 2021.
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Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the high-level committee on counter-terrorism (JPTKK), said there were only two arrests related to terrorism made in 2022.
“This is compared to 126 arrests linked to terrorism in 2016 and seven arrests in 2020,” he added.
Despite the reduced risk of terrorism, Ahmad Zahid said that the authorities would continue preemptive monitoring and protection measures to ensure the safety of all Malaysians.
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"We cannot risk becoming complacent and will remain vigilant while carrying out all the necessary preventive measures to ensure the safety of the nation.
"The National Security Council will continue its monitoring efforts together with the continued support from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of JPTKK here Thursday (May 11).
He added that the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) had been instructed to form a prevention plan involving education curriculum, from the primary level up to the tertiary levels, to prevent the spread of extremist terrorism ideologies.
"We must avoid differences in political beliefs, religious bigotry and racism from becoming a source of terrorism," he added.
