Women’s Ministry works with Bukit Aman to investigate teenagers under 16 caught in terrorist plot arrest
Kuching: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development has confirmed that it is working in close coordination with the Royal Malaysia Police to investigate cases involving minors allegedly implicated in terrorist plots in Peninsular Malaysia.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, speaking at a Ramadan event in Kuching, said her ministry was treating the case with both urgency and sensitivity given the young ages of those detained.
He stressed that the ministry will not rely on social media accounts for incidents and that a thorough investigation in collaboration with the police is necessary.
“Those arrested for alleged terrorism plots include very young teenagers. They are simply minors,” Nancy said.
“We want to find out what is the actual role of these minors in the alleged conspiracies.
“We will work closely with police investigators on these.”
He also cautioned against drawing conclusions based on unverified reports circulating online.
He said, “We cannot rely on what we hear or read on social media. Such cases are serious and since they involve minors, they should be investigated more thoroughly.”
The National Police Headquarters, Bukit Aman, had earlier confirmed the arrest of a group of male suspects, including teenagers as young as 16, from the peninsula in connection with alleged plans to carry out terrorist attacks.
Many of those detained are under the legal age of 18 years and are accordingly being held under the provisions of the Children Act 2001.
Nancy said her ministry’s involvement is guided by its mandate to protect the welfare of children, even in cases involving serious criminal allegations, and the sensitivity of the case demands careful handling at every stage of the investigation.
