Police are monitoring all tahfiz schools in the country in a proactive and preventive move to prevent the Salafi Jihadi and Islamic State ideologies from spreading.

According to inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun, one tahfiz school in Perlis has thus far been found to be involved with IS ideology.

“We fear that they want to make the tahfiz school in Perlis a stepping stone to spread their ideology in the country,” he told reporters after launching a police seminar on integrity at Pulapol today.

Fuzi was commenting on the arrest of eight men, including seven foreigners, by the Special Branch Counter-terrorism Division on Sept 24 on suspicion of being involved in activities which jeopardise public order and federal security.

He said the tahfiz school in Perlis was believed to have a network of militants overseas, including in Yemen.

“We cannot reveal more information on the case as it is still under investigation, while other tahfiz schools throughout the country are still under control,” he added.

Meanwhile, commenting on a statement by Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin who asked police to exclude Counter-terrorism Division principal assistant director Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay from the probe into terrorism in Perlis, Fuzi said the Perlis mufti should not interfere in police work.

“This is police work. Asri should not interfere in police work in ensuring the security of the country.

“He does not have any right to say my officers cannot take action on the tahfiz school."