scholarly journals Dynamic Dimensions of Radicalization and Violent Extremism in Sabah, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Henkin

Malaysia offers a unique lens to evaluate the changing dynamics of radicalization and extremism in Southeast Asia, as the threat of both home-grown and external extremism grows. The country’s geographic location, bordering multiple active centers of violent extremism (the southern Philippines, southern Thailand, and Indonesia), makes it particularly vulnerable to further threats from violent extremism and terrorism, as regional and local violent extremist organizations (VEOs) exploit Malaysian geohistorical contexts and growing grievances related to social and political instability. Threats and risks of violent extremism are especially pronounced and manifest with severe consequences in the Malaysian state of Sabah. This policy note advances a granular review of the dynamics underlying radicalization risk in Sabah, Malaysia, in order to extrapolate an analysis of emerging areas of threat and risk of violent extremism facing Southeast Asia. It offers an opportunity to better understand current and future threats and risks of violent extremism facing Southeast Asia and identifies important trends and recommendations for policymakers and practitioners in mitigating the spread of violent extremism and radicalization to violence in Sabah. The policy note also considers how building local preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) capacity can mitigate Malaysia’s role as a staging area, transit hub, and conduit for the transportation of weapons, operatives, finances, and supporters to other regional and global terrorist organizations.

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-111
Author(s):  
Gordon Draškić ◽  
Sansareeya Wangkulangkul ◽  
Iñigo Martínez-Solano ◽  
Judit Vörös

Many biodiversity hotspots are located in areas with a complex geological history, like Southeast Asia, where species diversity may still be far underestimated, especially in morphologically conservative groups like amphibians. Recent phylogenetic studies on the frog genusLeptobrachiumfrom Southeast Asia revealed the presence of deeply divergent mitochondrial clades inLeptobrachium hendricksonifrom Malaysia and Sumatra but populations from Thailand have not been studied so far. In this study, we re-evaluate patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity inL. hendricksonibased on the analysis of combined sequences of mitochondrial 12S and 16S genes (1310 base pairs) including for the first time samples from southern Thailand. Thai populations ofL. hendricksoniformed a distinct clade with respect to populations from central and southern Malaysia and Sumatra. High sequence divergence between lineages from Thailand, Malaysia and Sumatra suggests the possible presence of cryptic species inL. hendricksoni. Divergence withinL. hendricksonidates back to the late Miocene, around 6 Mya, when lineages from Thailand, north Malaysia and Sumatra split from a lineage in south Malaysia, at about the same time as rising sea levels isolated the Thai-Malay peninsula. Subsequent splits took place later in the Pliocene, around 4.5 and 2.6 Mya. Our results highlight the role of geological history in promoting population divergence and speciation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam

<p>This study analyzes the existence and political history of Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (Malaysia Militant Group-KMM); the most spectacular Muslim militant group to recently emerge from Malaysia. Using an interpretive framework derived from typology of radicalism, this study exposes the roots of the group and its transformation into a militant movement. Based on extensive fieldwork, numerous interviews and in-depth research of related documents, this study demonstrates that the existence of KMM cannot be dissociated from Afghanistan’s global Jihadist campaign.  This study analyzes the activities of KMM in the context of radical Islam in the South East Asia region and its wider connection, particularly with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Findings from fieldwork research conducted with active and ex-members of KMM and JI are presented to find the answer to the question pertaining the involvement of these two groups in terrorism activities in Southeast Asia.  Southeast Asian contemporary social and political scenarios have been build-up from a long history of rebellious freedom fighters against colonial super-powers. In addition to nationalism, Islamization has also played a significant role in establishing freedom movements in the 1940s and 1950s. Systematic pressure under colonial powers and harsh policies implemented by ultra nationalists to these groups resulted in a series of rebellions and defiance such as what happened in Indonesia, Southern Thailand and the Southern Philippines. Historical facts led to radicalism in these countries, which are important for gaining a better knowledge about Muslim radicalism in Southeast Asia also presented in this thesis.  The ‘typology of radicalism’ - the transformation from ‘nominal believers’ to activists, extremists, radicals and terrorists is explained in this research. Understanding Islam and their willingness to perform Jihad as was carried out in Afghanistan has had a significant impact on today’s militants. Finally, this research suggests the best methods for overcoming radicalism and diffusing KMM and JI’s threat in Southeast Asia.</p>


Author(s):  
Kumar Ramakrishna

Based on the assumption that ideology is the centre of gravity of a violent Islamist terrorist network, this chapter proposes a Counter-Ideological Response (CIR) Model for countering violent extremism (CVE) in Southeast Asia. The Model seeks to gradually diminish the appeal of violent extremist ideology. It comprises of five conceptual Spaces of Sender, Message, Mechanism, Recipient and Context, within which ideology-relevant policy interventions may be attempted, so as to impact the overall reach and appeal of the violent extremist narrative vis-a-vis any countervailing narrative put out against it. The model is applied to the Indonesian CVE milieu in this chapter.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-226
Author(s):  
Hong Liu ◽  
Huimei Zhang

Singapore has served as a strategic hub of immigration in Southeast Asia over the past two centuries since its founding as an entrepot in 1819. It is not only due to its geographic location at the crossroads between the East and West, but also to its vibrant social and business organizations that have provided effective institutional links both within Southeast Asia and between the region and China. This has, in turn, contributed to the making of Singapore as a key migration corridor among the Chinese diaspora. An overlooked institutional link in this corridor is qiaopi, the remittances-cum-letters sent home by Chinese immigrants from the 1820s to the 1980s, which was part of the intra-regional circulation of capital, goods, people and information. Qiaopi was officially selected into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO’s) “Memory of the World” Register in 2013, thus demonstrating its heritage significance. This paper examines the role of the qiaopi trade in establishing and consolidating Singapore’s place as the most important migrant corridor in Southeast Asia. It also discusses qiaopi from a transnational perspective of diasporic heritage and its contemporary relevance to the heritage corridor.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 11089-11105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Pommier ◽  
Cathy Clerbaux ◽  
Pierre-Francois Coheur

Abstract. Formic acid (HCOOH) concentrations are often underestimated by models, and its chemistry is highly uncertain. HCOOH is, however, among the most abundant atmospheric volatile organic compounds, and it is potentially responsible for rain acidity in remote areas. HCOOH data from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) are analyzed from 2008 to 2014 to estimate enhancement ratios from biomass burning emissions over seven regions. Fire-affected HCOOH and CO total columns are defined by combining total columns from IASI, geographic location of the fires from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and the surface wind speed field from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Robust correlations are found between these fire-affected HCOOH and CO total columns over the selected biomass burning regions, allowing the calculation of enhancement ratios equal to 7.30  ×  10−3 ± 0.08  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over Amazonia (AMA), 11.10  ×  10−3 ± 1.37  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over Australia (AUS), 6.80  ×  10−3 ± 0.44  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over India (IND), 5.80  ×  10−3 ± 0.15  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over Southeast Asia (SEA), 4.00  ×  10−3 ± 0.19  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over northern Africa (NAF), 5.00  ×  10−3 ± 0.13  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over southern Africa (SAF), and 4.40  ×  10−3 ± 0.09  ×  10−3 mol mol−1 over Siberia (SIB), in a fair agreement with previous studies. In comparison with referenced emission ratios, it is also shown that the selected agricultural burning plumes captured by IASI over India and Southeast Asia correspond to recent plumes where the chemistry or the sink does not occur. An additional classification of the enhancement ratios by type of fuel burned is also provided, showing a diverse origin of the plumes sampled by IASI, especially over Amazonia and Siberia. The variability in the enhancement ratios by biome over the different regions show that the levels of HCOOH and CO do not only depend on the fuel types.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Ervina Fredayani ◽  
Jordan Aria Adibrata ◽  
Naufal Fikhri Khairi

Abstrak Saat ini isu terorisme di Kawasan Asia Tenggara menjadi hal yang cukup penting untuk diperbincangkan, kawasan ini menjadi wilayah yang berpotensi besar akan hadirnya tindak kekerasan terorisme. Kehadiran kelompok islam radikal di Asia Tenggara menjadi faktor utama maraknya ancaman teror yang belakangan ini dirasa cukup meresahkan dan menimbulkan ketakutan terhadap masyarakat sekitar. Adanya hal ini kemudian membuat negara – negara di Kawasan Asia Tenggara bersepakat untuk mengantisipasi penyebaran aksi terorisme dengan menjalin kerja sama dengan Australia. Adapun penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui alasan kerja sama keamanan yang dilakukan oleh ASEAN dengan Australia dalam menghadapi ancaman terorisme, khususnya di Kawasan Asia Tenggara. Penggunaan Konsep Kerja Sama Keamanan Internasional dan Konsep Motivasi Kerja Sama Internasional sebagai alat dalam menjelaskan fenomena yang dikaji. Pada penelitian ini penulis menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data, telaah pustaka, buku, artikel, jurnal, dan dokumen – dokumen lainnya untuk dapat menganalisa permasalahan tersebut. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa terdapat beberapa alasan kerja sama keamanan yang dijalin oleh ASEAN dan Australia, meliputi menjaga keamanan nasional dan perdamaian kawasan dari adanya aksi-aksi teror yang melibatkan organisasi-organisasi terorisme. Walaupun masih belum mencapai hasil yang diinginkan, kerja sama yang dijalin oleh ASEAN dan Australia ini diharapkan dapat semakin meningkatkan keamanan regional dari kedua belah pihak. Kata Kunci: ASEAN, Australia, Kerja Sama Terorisme   Abstract At this time the problem of terrorism in the Southeast Asian Region is quite important to discuss, this region is a region with great potential for the presence of acts of terrorism. The presence of radical Islamic groups in Southeast Asia has become a major factor in the emergence of terror threats, which lately is considered quite disturbing and frightening to surrounding communities. This existence then made the countries in the Southeast Asia Region agree to anticipate the spread of terrorist acts by establishing cooperation with Australia. This study aims to determine the reasons for security cooperation undertaken by ASEAN and Australia in dealing with the threat of terrorism, particularly in the Southeast Asian Region. The use of the Concept of International Security Cooperation and the Concept of Motivation for International Cooperation as tools in explaining the phenomenon under study. In this study the authors used qualitative research methods with data collection techniques, literature reviews, books, articles, journals, and other documents to be able to analyze the problem. The results of this study reveal several reasons for the security cooperation established by ASEAN and Australia, including national security and regional peace from acts of terror involving terrorist organizations. Although it has not yet achieved the desired results, the cooperation carried out by ASEAN and Australia is expected to increase regional security from both parties. Keyword: ASEAN, Australia, Terrorism Cooperatio


Author(s):  
Herdi Sahrasad ◽  
Dedy Tabrani ◽  
Muhammad Ridwan ◽  
Al Chaidar

In Southeast Asia, many women in radical groups have extreme views and they are ready to join Jihadist movement to support her husband's actions as Jihad fi sabilillah.  In this context, experience in Southeast Asia shows the increasing involvement of women in terrorism by reason of following the husband's jihad to fight thogut regimes in the region. Meanwhile, there are a large number of Islamic terrorist organizations involving active women throughout the Southeast Asian region, from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore to the Philippines.  In this regard, the emergence of ISIS has strengthened and institutionalized acts of terror and violence by Southeast Asian women following the ISIS declaration to establish a regional khilafah (Caliphate). 


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendra Manurung

This research aims to explain current Myanmar political instability due to the recent military coup d’état on February 1, 2021 led by General Senior Min Aung Hlaing follow with Aung San Suu Kyi and other pro-democracy elite leaders arrests. Domestically, up to present time, after the military coup, most Burmese supporters of Myanmar's democratization such medical doctors, teachers, traders, civilian political leaders, and university students balked and staged massive demonstrations against the military coup and demanded the return of civilian government authority by the military junta government. This research revealed that this unexpected Myanmar phenomenal political situation has impact on Southeast Asia regional security and ASEAN Unity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mohd Mizan Mohammad Aslam

<p>This study analyzes the existence and political history of Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (Malaysia Militant Group-KMM); the most spectacular Muslim militant group to recently emerge from Malaysia. Using an interpretive framework derived from typology of radicalism, this study exposes the roots of the group and its transformation into a militant movement. Based on extensive fieldwork, numerous interviews and in-depth research of related documents, this study demonstrates that the existence of KMM cannot be dissociated from Afghanistan’s global Jihadist campaign.  This study analyzes the activities of KMM in the context of radical Islam in the South East Asia region and its wider connection, particularly with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Findings from fieldwork research conducted with active and ex-members of KMM and JI are presented to find the answer to the question pertaining the involvement of these two groups in terrorism activities in Southeast Asia.  Southeast Asian contemporary social and political scenarios have been build-up from a long history of rebellious freedom fighters against colonial super-powers. In addition to nationalism, Islamization has also played a significant role in establishing freedom movements in the 1940s and 1950s. Systematic pressure under colonial powers and harsh policies implemented by ultra nationalists to these groups resulted in a series of rebellions and defiance such as what happened in Indonesia, Southern Thailand and the Southern Philippines. Historical facts led to radicalism in these countries, which are important for gaining a better knowledge about Muslim radicalism in Southeast Asia also presented in this thesis.  The ‘typology of radicalism’ - the transformation from ‘nominal believers’ to activists, extremists, radicals and terrorists is explained in this research. Understanding Islam and their willingness to perform Jihad as was carried out in Afghanistan has had a significant impact on today’s militants. Finally, this research suggests the best methods for overcoming radicalism and diffusing KMM and JI’s threat in Southeast Asia.</p>


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