Islamic State watched me while I jogged, says Ayob
Ayob, who retired last month as deputy inspector-general after 35 years in the force, told Free Malaysia Today the militant network used social media to recruit Malaysians to watch security personnel. “They tracked the movements of certain officers, includi…
Source: Free Malaysia Today · August 25, 2026 at 12:31 AM · AI-assisted report
Single-source
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 AUGUST 2026 —
Ayob, who retired last month as deputy inspector-general after 35 years in the force, told Free Malaysia Today the militant network used social media to recruit Malaysians to watch security personnel. “They tracked the movements of certain officers, including the inspector-general of police at the time. They knew I would go for a jog at Taman Tasik Perdana, and that then IGP Khalid Abu Bakar went for convoy bike rides on Saturdays,” he said.
Market Impact
The disclosure comes as Ayob defended the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), under which suspects can be held for 28 days without charge. He argued the law is necessary to prevent large-scale terror operations, saying his team once arrested 40 suspects within 24 hours. “Standard remand procedures under general criminal law were inadequate when dealing with dozens of individuals,” he said.
He drew a contrast with the repealed Internal Security Act 1960, which allowed indefinite detention.
Ayob also warned that Malaysia’s multiracial fabric requires security laws tailored to local conditions. He cited the 2001 clashes in Kampung Medan and Kampung Rawa and said politicians should prioritise long-term safety over short-term political gains. “Our social fabric is different. We cannot simply take the model Western countries use,” he added.
For Malaysian business readers, the veteran officer’s account shows how militant surveillance of officials can threaten public order, reinforcing the need for laws like Sosma to keep risks from destabilising investor sentiment.