VZCZCXRO3993
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHKL #1977/01 2921027
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 191027Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7820
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001977 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2026 
TAGS: PTER PREL PINR ASEC MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA RELEASES 11 DETAINEES WITH PAST TERRORIST 
LINKS 
 
 
Classified By: DCM David B. Shear for reasons 1.4 (b, c, d). 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) Malaysia unexpectedly released 11 people, 
originally held for terrorist links, from ISA (Internal 
Security Act) detention on October 18.  The eleven represent 
Malaysian citizens previously tied to the Malaysia Militant 
Group (KMM) or the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group. 
Local media attention has focused on the release of Nik Adli 
bin Nik Aziz, son of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) 
leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.  Others, however, had more 
significant ties to terrorist groups or a known history of 
terrorist activity.  These include retired army Lt. Col. 
Abdul Manaf Kasmuri, who has been linked to the 2002 Bali 
bombing and Indonesian terrorist Hambali.  We recommend that 
the USG express concern to the GOM regarding the sudden 
release of the terrorist suspects, but that we do so 
initially through intelligence channels.  End Summary. 
 
Home for the Holidays 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) In a move timed to coincide with the Aidul Fitri 
holiday season, Malaysia released from prison eleven people 
originally detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for 
suspected terrorist-related activities.  Prime Minister 
Abdullah Badawi, who is also Minister for Internal Security, 
signed the release order.  Malaysia had detained the eleven 
men under the ISA, a 1960s era law passed to combat communist 
insurgents, for the past three to five years for their 
suspected involvement in the Malaysia Militant Group 
(Kumpulan Mujahidin Malaysia, or KMM) and Jemaah Islamiyah 
(JI) terrorist groups.  Police have imposed restricted 
movement conditions on the former detainees, and have 
required them to report weekly to local police.  The police 
did not provide the public with advance notification of these 
releases. 
 
¶3.  (U) The names of the released ISA detainees are as 
follows: 
 
KMM associated detainees: 
Nik Adli Nik Aziz 
Zainon Ismail 
Ahmad Tauzi Tarman 
Md Lotfi Arifin 
Zid Saharani Mohamad Isa 
Mohd Rafi Udin 
 
JI associated detainees: 
Abdul Samad bin Shukri Mohamad 
Mazlan Ishak 
Syed Ali Syed Abdullah 
Alias Sani 
Abdul Manaf Kasmuri 
 
Media Focus on Politician's Son 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The six suspected KMM members represent the last 
affiliated with that group to be released.  All of the KMM 
members had been held since 2001 for the group's suspected 
participation in bombings, bank robberies and murder.  The 
alleged leader of KMM was Nik Adli bin Nik Aziz who had 
fought and trained in Afghanistan.  Nik Adli's father, Nik 
Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, is the Chief Minister of Kelantan, a 
state in the northeast of peninsular Malaysia, as well as the 
spiritual leader of PAS, Malaysia's main Islamic opposition 
party.  Media outlets have focused most of their attention on 
the release of Nik Adli, whose arrest some viewed as 
politically motivated because of the rivalry between the 
ruling National Coalition government and PAS.  Nik Adli's 
politician father expressed deep bitterness toward the 
government for holding his son and told reporters he would 
never thank the police for his son's release. 
 
Others of More Concern 
---------------------- 
 
¶5.  (S/NF) Other released terrorist suspects appear to have 
more serious and substantial links to terrorism, including JI 
member Abdul Manaf Kasmuri.  Manaf, a retired Malaysian army 
lieutenant colonel, has been linked to the 2002 Bali bombing, 
to Indonesian terrorist Hambali and to major figures within 
Al-Qaeda, and reportedly has abetted planning of terrorist 
acts in the United States.  He is known to have assisted 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001977  002 OF 002 
 
 
Muslim fighters in Bosnia where he led a peacekeeping 
contingent.  Former detainnee Alias Sani also has ties to 
Hambali and is known to have provided material assistance to 
fighters en route to the Philippines. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (S/NF) Malaysian authorities did not provide any Mission 
office with advance notification of these releases.  We are 
examining what, if any, near-term security implications there 
may be to the release of the 11 men in Malaysia.  The sudden 
release of suspects with past substantial links to terrorist 
acts and organizations is disturbing.  We recommend that the 
USG express concern to Malaysia about these releases, but 
that we do so initially through intelligence channels. 
LAFLEUR