COMMENT | The recent bombing and shooting event at Sungai Golok, Thailand, which led to the loss of lives among Thai security forces, highlights the escalating threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia.

This incident acts as a cautionary signal for adjacent nations, particularly Malaysia, to enhance their counter-terrorism measures.

This is particularly important given the global patterns indicating that terrorist activities frequently rise during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period often linked to militant jihadist organisations like Isis.

Global surge of terrorist attacks during Ramadan

Globally, Ramadan has increasingly been associated with a surge in terrorist activities, particularly orchestrated by extremist factions such as Isis.

In 2016, a series of attacks unfolded in various locations during this holy month, resulting in significant loss of life in cities like Istanbul, Turkiye; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Baghdad, Iraq. Notably, a terrorist assault at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport claimed the lives of 45 individuals and left over 200 injured.

In Dhaka, armed assailants invaded a...