THE recent arrest of six youths and two minors on March 6, 2026 for supporting Daesh serves as a sobering reminder that while the shadow of terrorism may have receded, it has far from disappeared. These individuals, some aged just sixteen, were charged with pledging loyalty, spreading propaganda and planning attacks, a stark reality that violent extremism does not emerge in isolation. Instead, it evolves within a broader ecosystem of ideological exposure and social influence.
The contemporary threat landscape has shifted significantly from physical recruitment in educational or religious circles into the digital domain. Today’s "digital narratives" are systematically targeted via mainstream social media, encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and even online gaming platforms such as Discord and Twitch. These platforms act as echo chambers, allowing individuals to internalise extremist content within mere weeks, often without ever having direct physical contact with terrorist networks.
Furthermore, conflicts in the Middle East are often cited to justify violence and drive radicalisation particularly among young people. As the threat becomes more adaptive and decentralised, terrorist and extremist recruiters are successfully bypassing traditional community gatekeepers such as parents and religious leaders.
While the Royal Malaysia Police deserve immense credit for maintaining our low ranking on the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, this success must not breed complacency. It provides us with a vital strategic window to bolster national resilience.
Counter-terrorism has long focused on thwarting immediate plots and high-value targets, yet experts warn these tactics merely treat symptoms. Real progress today requires dismantling recruitment pipelines and neutralising toxic propaganda both offline and online. It is an uphill battle, in this sense, ensuring the complex fight against terrorist recruitment and radicalisation is no longer the exclusive burden of law enforcement agencies.
This shift necessitates a "Whole of Government and Whole of Society" (WOGOS) approach. The front lines of this battle for hearts and minds are no longer exclusively manned by officers in uniform. They now include civil society organisations (CSOs), academics and independent researchers. These groups build the bedrock of societal resilience through interfaith dialogue, women’s empowerment and powerful counter-narratives.
We must also be honest about the economics of security. The "hard approach" is becoming increasingly expensive with the costs of anti-drone technology and signal jammers rising annually. Yet, the "soft approach" cannot be expected to be free. CSOs and researchers require sustained financial sponsorship to remain effective.
These civilian experts are not James Bond or Black Widow, but their insights are essential to our national security. If we fail to support these interventions now, we risk a future where violent extremism may be a precursor to terrorism becomes a permanent fixture in our educational institutions.
Ahmad Tajuddin Mohd Said and Lailatul Afizdha Arip,
Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (MiDAS)
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.