Foreign militants, including remnants of the Tamil Tigers, are using Malaysia as their operational base and for recruiting new activists, Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stated yesterday (15 June).

The Minister further said that militant groups, both Islamic and non-Islamic, were using Malaysia as their operational base to step up their violent struggle.

He pointed out that these groups were also using the Southeast Asian country for their financial transactions and exchange of information, besides recruiting people.

"Among those targeted for recruitment are students of local higher learning institutions," the Minister told reporters.

Musa Hassan, the Inspector-General of Police stated that Malaysian police had detected the presence of several senior leaders of the LTTE who were reportedly using Malaysia for shelter and logistic base, Malaysia’s state-run news agency Bernama reported.

The Malaysian Home Minister said that his Ministry was working closely with local enforcement and international intelligence agencies to share data on foreign nationals entering Malaysia and their movements, to curb activities that could threaten national and regional security.