In my addresses at security conferences in Malaysia and abroad, I always remember to state one thing: Malaysians must be grateful that we have a professional and formidable counter-terrorism unit and Special Branch, which have kept us all from harm’s way.

However, recent events, both here and in countries infested by terrorist activities, raise many pertinent questions that need to be articulated and addressed.

One of these questions is; are there many sympathisers and closet supporters of terrorist groups among us?

Our borders are porous, and entry and exit at our international airports and ports are very vulnerable.

With the gaps that show up even when dealing with migrant workers, will handling sleepers and active combatants, each with several passports, be far too difficult for our immigration frontline?

We have all read and analysed the comments sections of online media, including Facebook. Extremist ideologies, hatred and intolerance are made quite explicit on those forums, which puts fear in the hearts and minds of law-abiding citizens.

Reports state that over 30 Malaysians have travelled to the Middle East to join the Islamic State (IS). Let us also not forget that Malaysians and Indonesians are among the foreign jihadists fighting the Philippine army in Mindanao. And this has also been acknowledged by Manila’s solicitor-general.

There are also reports stating that several terrorists have also had stints at our institutions of higher education, while others went rogue when their covers were blown.

Will this come back to haunt and hurt us, and silence those of us who are expected to defend our Federal Constitution and the secular state?

In this light, it was a welcome sight that the Malay Rulers recently expressed concern over the eroding unity and harmony in Malaysia, in light of racially controversial issues that have taken place of late.

I am glad that the Raja Muda of Perlis and the other rulers have criticised the actions of certain individuals who threaten the harmony of our multi-religious and multi-ethnic society.

Many bodies and NGOs, supposedly established to spread righteousness, instead preach only hatred and bigotry.

These groups rise to defend the sheltering of extremist foreign preachers who reside here but are wanted by their own governments on allegations of funding terrorism.

I have never heard any of these groups advocating the virtues of peace, goodwill, love, generosity, unity in diversity and gentler aspects of their faith; instead, they preach only hostility and supremacy.

We have cases of state muftis supporting discrimination, civil servants refusing to execute court orders and pastors being kidnapped with seemingly little action being taken.

With such an atmosphere, what message is being sent to peace-loving and law-abiding Malaysians? And what message is being sent to these extremists with their shenanigans?

We have spineless politicians throwing stones and hiding their hands, watching from the sidelines, or only waking up from their comatose state to spew more hatred for the sake of political expediency.

We cannot have it both ways – saying one thing in international platforms, but closing both eyes to race-baiting back home.

It is time we Malaysians are all on the same page promoting peace, goodwill, love, generosity, tolerance and unity, as we once did, just before and just after Merdeka.