KUALA LUMPUR: Police are usually top on the list of targets of militants, says the Home Minister.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said such terror groups ideology was that if a government was not based on a caliphate, then it needed to be opposed.
"So, they go on and place the police force as their number one target to defeat a government," he told reporters after closing the Retired Senior Police Officers Association (Respa) annual general meeting at the Police Academy here today (June 25).
Also present was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
He said that was the reason why enforcement efforts should focus on combating such ideology.
"The fact remains that we managed to detect and cripple this movement and, in the process of intelligence and preliminary investigations, we established a motive that targeted several dignitaries and top police officers.
"Under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) police were given the power to remand the suspects for 28 days to complete their investigations.
"Allow the police to plan their next move and conduct their investigations," he said when asked about the eight suspects who were recently arrested in connection with the Islamic State terror group.
He said Special Branch E8 (Counter Terrorism) was gathering intelligence and taking action against such groups.
"During their investigations and intelligence gathering process they will find information to justify making the arrests," he said when asked about the extent of the attack plans of the eight who were caught.
"Terrorist groups should be opposed because they threaten public order and national security.
"So we classify this as a form of threat that has the potential to threaten peace and order," he said.