Hisham: Travel advisory should include Western countries, too

The travel advisory issued by France urging its people to be vigilant when visiting several Muslim countries including Malaysia, should also include Western countries, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

He said the advisory should not only be addressed to specific countries but globally as all countries should be vigilant against any threats by Islamic State (IS) or any other extremist groups.

“If they want to give an advisory, I think the same applies to their own country, and not just unique to one country,” he told journalists after opening the Larut Umno AGM at the Taiping Golf Resort in Kamunting near here yesterday.

The advisory was issued on Friday by the French Foreign Affairs Ministry following the beheading of French tourist Herv Gourdel in Algeria on Wednesday by terrorists claiming to belong to IS.

Hishammuddin stressed that Malaysia was always serious about the country’s security.

“We have arrested three people who were on their way to Syria.

“There are also threats including Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Abu Sayyaf, who declared their support for ISIL or IS and Nur Misuari who made his intention clearly to form an Islamic caliphate that includes Sabah and Sarawak, southern Philippines, Brunei and Indonesia,” he said. “I have also discussed with the Prime Minister on more funds for security in Sabah and Sarawak.”