Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUALALUMPUR1977
2006-10-19 10:27:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

MALAYSIA RELEASES 11 DETAINEES WITH PAST TERRORIST

Tags:  PTER PREL PINR ASEC MY 
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VZCZCXRO3993
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHKL #1977/01 2921027
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 191027Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7820
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001977 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2026
TAGS: PTER PREL PINR ASEC MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA RELEASES 11 DETAINEES WITH PAST TERRORIST
LINKS


Classified By: DCM David B. Shear for reasons 1.4 (b, c, d).


Summary
-------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001977

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2026
TAGS: PTER PREL PINR ASEC MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA RELEASES 11 DETAINEES WITH PAST TERRORIST
LINKS


Classified By: DCM David B. Shear for reasons 1.4 (b, c, d).


Summary
--------------


1. (S/NF) Malaysia unexpectedly released 11 people,
originally held for terrorist links, from ISA (Internal
Security Act) detention on October 18. The eleven represent
Malaysian citizens previously tied to the Malaysia Militant
Group (KMM) or the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group.
Local media attention has focused on the release of Nik Adli
bin Nik Aziz, son of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS)
leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Others, however, had more
significant ties to terrorist groups or a known history of
terrorist activity. These include retired army Lt. Col.
Abdul Manaf Kasmuri, who has been linked to the 2002 Bali
bombing and Indonesian terrorist Hambali. We recommend that
the USG express concern to the GOM regarding the sudden
release of the terrorist suspects, but that we do so
initially through intelligence channels. End Summary.

Home for the Holidays
--------------


2. (U) In a move timed to coincide with the Aidul Fitri
holiday season, Malaysia released from prison eleven people
originally detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for
suspected terrorist-related activities. Prime Minister
Abdullah Badawi, who is also Minister for Internal Security,
signed the release order. Malaysia had detained the eleven
men under the ISA, a 1960s era law passed to combat communist
insurgents, for the past three to five years for their
suspected involvement in the Malaysia Militant Group
(Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, or KMM) and Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI) terrorist groups. Police have imposed restricted
movement conditions on the former detainees, and have
required them to report weekly to local police. The police
did not provide the public with advance notification of these
releases.


3. (U) The names of the released ISA detainees are as
follows:

KMM associated detainees:
Nik Adli Nik Aziz
Zainon Ismail
Ahmad Tauzi Tarman
Md Lotfi Arifin
Zid Saharani Mohamad Isa
Mohd Rafi Udin

JI associated detainees:
Abdul Samad bin Shukri Mohamad
Mazlan Ishak
Syed Ali Syed Abdullah
Alias Sani
Abdul Manaf Kasmuri

Media Focus on Politician's Son
--------------


4. (SBU) The six suspected KMM members represent the last
affiliated with that group to be released. All of the KMM
members had been held since 2001 for the group's suspected
participation in bombings, bank robberies and murder. The
alleged leader of KMM was Nik Adli bin Nik Aziz who had
fought and trained in Afghanistan. Nik Adli's father, Nik
Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, is the Chief Minister of Kelantan, a
state in the northeast of peninsular Malaysia, as well as the
spiritual leader of PAS, Malaysia's main Islamic opposition
party. Media outlets have focused most of their attention on
the release of Nik Adli, whose arrest some viewed as
politically motivated because of the rivalry between the
ruling National Coalition government and PAS. Nik Adli's
politician father expressed deep bitterness toward the
government for holding his son and told reporters he would
never thank the police for his son's release.

Others of More Concern
--------------


5. (S/NF) Other released terrorist suspects appear to have
more serious and substantial links to terrorism, including JI
member Abdul Manaf Kasmuri. Manaf, a retired Malaysian army
lieutenant colonel, has been linked to the 2002 Bali bombing,
to Indonesian terrorist Hambali and to major figures within
Al-Qaeda, and reportedly has abetted planning of terrorist
acts in the United States. He is known to have assisted

KUALA LUMP 00001977 002 OF 002


Muslim fighters in Bosnia where he led a peacekeeping
contingent. Former detainnee Alias Sani also has ties to
Hambali and is known to have provided material assistance to
fighters en route to the Philippines.

Comment
--------------


6. (S/NF) Malaysian authorities did not provide any Mission
office with advance notification of these releases. We are
examining what, if any, near-term security implications there
may be to the release of the 11 men in Malaysia. The sudden
release of suspects with past substantial links to terrorist
acts and organizations is disturbing. We recommend that the
USG express concern to Malaysia about these releases, but
that we do so initially through intelligence channels.
LAFLEUR