Isis hit list disclosure made to show seriousness of threat, says Hishammuddin

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says Malaysia could have been targeted by the Islamic State due to its firm stand against the militant group. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 16, 2015.Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he revealed that he and Malaysian leaders were on the hit list of militant group Islamic State (Isis) as he wanted this to inject a sense of urgency over the threat posed by the group on Malaysian soil, more so after Friday's attacks in Paris.

"I deliberately revealed this because of the Paris attacks which are worrying. I want to inject a sense of urgency in the context of the nation's security and also for all quarters not to take this threat lightly," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

He said intelligence forces had received information regarding his name, and also that of several other Malaysian leaders, adding that this was not new.

According to a report in The Star today, Hishammuddin said he had learnt he was a target together with other leaders before the Asean Defence Ministers meeting in Langkawi in March.

He did not elaborate further but said the threat would not deter Putrajaya in its fight against terrorism in the country and region.

Isis has claimed responsibility for six coordinated attacks in Paris which have been called the worst in France's history.

Targets were restaurants, a concert hall and a stadium, which were the scenes of shootings, suicide bombings and hostage situations. The death toll stands at 129, while 352 are wounded, 99 in critical condition.

Hishammuddin today played down the threat to himself and other colleagues whom he refused to name, saying such scare tactics only gave them further impetus to fight the Isis threat.

He added that he did not know why the country's leaders and Malaysia were targets, and suggested that it could be due to the nation's strong stand against the militant group.

He said Malaysia had also succeeded in uniting all 10 Asean countries by signing a declaration against Isis.

"We are the moderate face of Islam which does not represent what they stand for. Everything that goes against Isis is what Malaysia stands for.

"So the quickest way to scare us is to submit to their ideology or do something more drastic and that's why I mention it this time, to instil a sense of urgency and inform people not to take this lightly." – November 16, 2015.