Malaysia urges overhaul of counter-terrorism laws to tackle online radicalisation of youth

At a Kuala Lumpur forum organized by INITATE.MY, criminologist Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid stressed that Malaysia’s counter-terrorism laws must be continuously updated to confront the rapid migration of extremist recruitment to digital arenas. She described how groups exploit encrypted communications, cryptocurrency and online gaming to lure youths, sometimes before they turn twelve, calling for proactive community engagement beyond punitive measures.

Supt Dr Muhammad Shafiq Mohd Sarif of the Prisons Department noted that rehabilitation programmes now combine psychological support, religious re-education and collaboration with other agencies, achieving zero repeat terrorism offences. He added that modern educational methods, including digital-literacy curricula aligned with the Ministry of Education, are being introduced to help young inmates reintegrate successfully after release.