Myanmar, Malaysia agree on cooperation to combat Islamic State threat

23 February 2015
Myanmar, Malaysia agree on cooperation to combat Islamic State threat
Fighters of the Islamic State terrorist group take part in military training in Mosul city, northern Iraq, November 2, 2014. Photo: EPA
 

Malaysia and Myanmar have agreed that the Islamic State threat is real and IS may try to instill its ideology in hotspots in ASEAN, reports the Malay Mail on February 20.
Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said both countries agreed that ASEAN member states should enhance cooperation, particularly under the ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting or ADMM platform to combat the threat.
The insurgent group IS, fighting and occupying territory in Iraq and Syria, has drawn recruits from many Muslim communities around the world and its ideology is spreading.
Mr Hishammuddin, who visited Myanmar for his ASEAN tour as chairman of ADMM, had a meeting with his counterpart, Myanmar Defence Minister Lieutenant General Wai Lwin, and discussed various topics regarding security and defence.
He invited his counterpart to the 9th ADMM and the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia.
Mr Hishammuddin said the ADMM was very important and said Lieutenant General Wai Lwin expressed his support for Malaysia’s chairmanship of ADMM 2015.
The report said Myanmar was encouraged to be active in the Expert Working Groups, particularly under the framework of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Peace Keeping Operation.