ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the way in which Malaysia’s dealing with the communist insurgency of 1948–1989 has helped influence the current approach to the counter radicalization and deradicalization of religious based extremism. It provides an assessment of the current threat from violent extremism. The Communist Party attempted to infiltrate society by recruiting new cadres of communist family members and their sympathizers in Peninsular Malaysia as well as in South Thailand. To counter the communist threat the state strengthened the armed forces, revised the Internal Security Act in 1960 and launched psychological activities and counter-insurgency warfare. The entire national programme aimed at defeating the communists involved many agencies and was coordinated by the National Security Council. A number of religious-based extremist groups have emerged in Malaysia. Jemaah Islamiah can be roughly translated to mean ‘broader Muslim community’ or ‘Islamic congregation’. Malaysia does not have a specific counter-radicalization programme aimed at society as a whole.
