Malaysian police and other security apparatus have disrupted up to 19 terror plots in the country between 2013 and 2017, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed revealed today.

In the same period, he said, a total of 369 suspected Islamic State militants, including 87 foreigners, have been arrested.

Nur Jazlan said the grenade attack at the Movida bar in Puchong in June 2016 was considered the first IS-linked attack in Malaysia, which was an apt reminder of the reality of modern terrorism.

"Thankfully, it did not result in any deaths, and the perpetrators were arrested and sentenced to jail.

"Conflicts that are happening thousands of miles away can have very real repercussions on our security back home," he said when delivering the Malaysian country statement at the Putrajaya International Security Dialogue (PISD) 2018 here.

Nur Jazlan said the time had come for the international community to review the current approach to combating terrorism.

“Instead of being reactive, it would be much wiser to take on proactive steps in ensuring that the seeds of extremism are stamped out,” he said, adding that Malaysia had mooted the idea of offering a moderate religious interpretation particularly in dealing with IS.

"The heavy-handed approach, which may seem effective in the short term, does not address the core issues of terrorism, which is just as much as a war against criminals and terrorists as it is for the hearts and minds, a battle of competing ideologies," he said.

Nur Jazlan (photo) said counselling and re-education, as well as religious leaders and experts’ involvement in correcting and countering the perverted views of Islam to terror convicts, was an effective tool in deradicalising them.

"It would also turn former convicts into key propagators in countering IS’ propaganda and ideology," he said.

Meanwhile, Mehmet Mehdi Eker, representative of the Turkish president, in his country statement, said terrorism could only be addressed through effective international cooperation.

He said Turkey believed in forming a collective approach to global security threats, and contributed to international efforts in the fight against terrorism.

"Only joint action and solidarity can lead to a more secure and peaceful world," he said.

Mehmet also expressed his country's gratitude to Malaysia for the cooperation in curbing Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (Feto) activities in Malaysia.

He said Turkey had a long experience of fighting terrorism and actively engaged in combat against multiple terrorist organisations, such as IS, Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Feto.

"No terrorist group should be supported or justified. This is, in fact, the utmost test of sincerity. Here, we all need to be on the same page," Mehmet Mehdi said.

The two-day high-profile discourse on international security issues, themed “Wisdom and Moderation in Combating Terrorism,” was organised by the Home Ministry in collaboration with Rabitah Al-Alami Al-Islami (World Muslim League), a non-governmental organisation based in Saudi Arabia.

- Bernama