In the wake of rising threats from militant groups such as Islamic State (IS), the government must scrutinise the background of foreign visitors prior to issuing them visas to enter the country, said former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.

Musa, who is chairperson of the Malaysia Community Crime Care Association, said today this would ensure that unwanted visitors did not enter the country in the guise of students and tourists to spread their ideology and undermine peace and order.

“Ours is an open country, welcoming many tourists and foreign nationals. We must know their background (before they come to Malaysia).

"If we issue visa-on-arrival when we do not know who they are, problems can arise pertaining to security," he said when asked to comment on the threat posed by militant groups in the country.

Musa said he was confident the police, through their good intelligence work, would be able to address this threat.

"Our oolice have wide experience... they have the capability to check this threat," he said.

Meanwhile, Musa hailed as a good move the proposed measure to deploy deradicalised local militants to help raise public awareness on the threat of terror attacks and persuade people under the influence of IS to cease their activities.

"This is a good effort... it is good for people who have been involved in terrorism to enlighten people on the matter," he said.

The proposed measure on the deradicalised local militants was announced by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last Wednesday.

He had also said then that the message of these former militants would be carried in the mass media and they would be taken to address students in tertiary institutions, seen as most vulnerable to the influence of militant groups.

- Bernama