Najib: Our strongest defence against extremism, militant ideology is the public

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's strongest defence against extremism and militant ideology is the public, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He said as long as the public is not influenced by such ideologies, the sovereignty of the country is secured.

"It is undeniable we have strong defence forces protecting the country. The police, armed forces and other regulatory bodies are doing well. But I must say the best defence is from the public. As long as the people are not influenced by militant ideologies and extremism, celebrations as this (Raya) can be enjoyed without any worries," he said during the Open House in Seri Perdana to the media.
Najib said this peace that Malaysian currently enjoy needs to be safeguarded.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that after threats that happened in a few countries, Malaysia has stepped up its security.
He said that Malaysia would not let any such incidents happen here.
"In light of what has happened in Marawi in the Southern Philippines, in Bangkok and in Mecca recently, we don't want anything bad to happen in Malaysia," he told reporters.
Militants from Islamic State had beseiged the southern Philippines state near the Mindanao region, Marawi, last month, sparking a bloody street-to-street battle.
While in Bangkok, a man planted a bomb in an army-run hospital last month, saying that he was motivated by his hatred towards the military and their frequent coups.
As Muslims were gearing to celebrate Aidilfitri, Saudi Arabian police foiled on Friday a "terrorist action" against Islam's holiest site, Mecca, where a suicide bomber had barricade himself and exploded. Eleven people were injured and five of the injured were police.