Malaysia: Increased security implemented during Hari Raya festive period

Event

At least 40,000 policemen have been deployed as part of a series of additional security measures implemented in Malaysia during the Hari Raya festive period.

The increased security is in response to an increased threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) and current unrest in Malawi, in the southern Philippines.

Context

In January 2016, the Malaysian police placed the country on the highest security alert level. On June 28, 2016, a grenade attack at a bar in the town of Puchong injured eight people. Local authorities later confirmed that it was a terrorist attack perpetrated by individuals with links to the Islamic State (IS) group. Between 2013 and 2016, police arrested more than 250 IS suspects, most of them Malaysian citizens.

Hari Raya, also known as Eid-el-Fitr, marks the end of the month of Ramadan.

Advice

Individuals present in Malaysia should remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Due to a high risk of terrorist attack, always be on guard when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.).