Islamic State watched me while I went jogging, says Ayob
Retired Malaysian deputy police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay revealed that he was under surveillance by Islamic State militants during his time as a counter-terrorism head. He emphasized the necessity of strict security protocols and legal tools like Sosma to combat national security threats.
Why it matters
It provides insight into the high-stakes environment of counter-terrorism and the ongoing debate regarding the use of special security laws.
Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay earned national and international attention for his work in dismantling terrorist cells. He recently retired as deputy inspector-general of police.
PETALING JAYA: Being constantly on guard was second nature to Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, especially when he was head of counter-terrorism. He knew there were eyes watching when he went jogging at Taman Tasik Perdana.
He knew that the Islamic State's principal coordinator for Malaysia would recruit Malaysians through social media to carry out surveillance on security personnel.
"They tracked the movements of certain officers, including the inspector-general of police at the time. They knew I would go for a jog at Taman Tasik Perdana, and that then IGP (Khalid Abu Bakar) went for convoy bike rides on Saturdays.
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