Malaysia downplays Nilai homemade blast amid regional jitters over recent attacks

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian authorities explained that an

early morning blast and the subsequent discovery of homemade explosive devices

in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, on Dec 22 was an isolated event.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad told The Straits Times on Dec 23 that locals should carry on with their daily lives, as the police have established that the suspect acted alone in preparing the explosive materials.

The case has since drawn attention to how the Malaysian authorities evaluate and respond to improvised threats at a time of heightened global security sensitivity, following deadly high-profile attacks in Taipei and Sydney, and a false threat in Singapore.

Experts polled by ST said the circumstances of the Nilai explosion – including its location, method and apparent intent – do not fit the typical behavioural or situational patterns associated with a terror attack.

“This is an isolated case and does not involve any individual or extremist group. The public, especially residents in the Nilai area, should not feel anxious about carrying out their daily activities, as police have confirmed that the suspect acted alone in preparing the explosive materials,” Datuk Alzafny said.

He said that the police are hunting for the suspect, a Malaysian in his 60s, who is believed to be on the run.

In the early morning of Dec 22, an explosion was heard near Desa Palma Apartments in Nilai, about a 45-minute drive south of Kuala Lumpur.

Witnesses told police the blast appeared to have originated from a vehicle.

The area was secured and checks were carried out on nearby homes as a precaution. During the subsequent sweep of the area, police discovered three objects suspected to be improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside a house near the blast site.

About 250m away, officers located the vehicle believed to be linked to the explosion, where several items and materials suspected to have caused the blast were found.

No injuries were officially reported, although local media reported traces of blood at the scene, suggesting that someone may have been hurt.

The police also found nails scattered around the blast area, which investigators are assessing to determine whether they were part of the explosive devices.

Criminologists told ST that the location of the explosion remains a critical indicator of intent.

“Devices discovered in residential or private settings tend to point towards personal disputes, criminal intimidation or unsophisticated experimentation, rather than ideological violence, which typically seeks visibility and mass psychological impact by targeting public or symbolic sites,” said Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Law.

However, Dr Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia, a political scientist whose research focuses on extremism and security issues, said the authorities still need to monitor for warning signs.

These include unusually large purchases of materials that could be used to assemble IEDs, as well as online chatter suggesting potential attacks.

“The authorities have to remain vigilant by tracking activities, movements and online behaviour, and monitoring potential extremists threats. That is what the police counter-terrorism unit is for,” he told ST.

At the same time, Dr Azmil said, the authorities also need to address the wider environment that makes it conducive for extremist thought to take root.

The incident occurred as security agencies worldwide remain on high alert following a series of violent events. On Dec 14, a

beach shooting at Australia’s Bondi Beach

left 15 dead, while a

knife attack in Taiwan’s Taipei Main Station

on Dec 19 claimed at least three lives and left 11 injured.

Meanwhile, in Singapore,

a church was evacuated on Dec 21 after a bomb threat,

which was later found to be a hoax.

These incidents, happening close to one another, have sharpened focus on lone-actor violence and threat reporting.

Malaysia, meanwhile, has not experienced large-scale mass attacks in recent years.

Serious incidents have largely been limited to isolated acts of violence, such as a

fatal school stabbing

in Selangor on Oct 14, in which a student was stabbed multiple times by a fellow student. The police treated the case as murder rather than a security threat.

Assessing the way the police handled the Dec 22 blast case, including the swift discovery of the IEDs in one of the homes and their subsequent containment, Dr Haezreena said it suggests that the Malaysian authorities are functioning at the required operational level.

She pointed to rapid inter-agency coordination, precautionary containment protocols, and the use of existing legal tools such as the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act, which already impose severe penalties without invoking terrorism laws prematurely.

This reflects what she described as a measured security posture, alert but restrained.

“Investigations typically begin with a neutral threat assessment that prioritises intent, motive and context over the weapon used, particularly when capability and targeting remain unclear.

“In Malaysia, many cases involving explosives historically fall under ordinary criminal offences such as murder, intimidation, arson or organised crime rather than terrorism,” Dr Haezreena told ST.

She further added that analysts rely on pattern recognition rather than surface similarities with overseas events.

“This includes examining whether an act is ideologically motivated or grievance-driven, evidence of networked behaviour or radicalisation pathways, possible copycat indicators, and the individual’s personal trajectory, including mental health stressors or criminal history,” she said.

Police sources have confirmed that the preliminary findings from the investigation do not point to terrorism, as the 60-year-old suspect has only one prior criminal record and no links to extremist groups.