300 Chinese nationals used Malaysia as transit point to join ISIS: Minister

Militant fighters hold the flag of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) while taking part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province on June 30, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Militant fighters hold the flag of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) while taking part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province on June 30, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

PUTRAJAYA - More than 300 Chinese nationals have used Malaysia as a transit point on their way to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed on Wednesday according to state news agency Bernama.

From Malaysia, the extremists moved to a third country before entering Syria and Iraq, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid said as reported by Bernama.

He told reporters this was disclosed to him by China's Vice-Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei at their meeting at his office earlier on Wednesday.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said Kuala Lumpur and Beijing viewed the security threat seriously and were committed to coming up with more comprehensive measured to curb it.

"Although there exists an arrangement between Malaysia and China to combat terrorism through counter-terrorism measures, this problem is serious," Dr Ahmad Zahid was quoted by Bernama as saying.

"This is because ties exist at the international level between terrorists in China and those in other countries in the Southeast Asian region," he said.

Asked about the possibility of these Chinese nationals having ties with Malaysians, Dr Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia had received no information on that.

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