Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict Heightens Regional Instability
KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has heightened regional instability, with ripple effects that could embolden transnational terrorist networks and deepen sectarian divides far beyond West Asia, said Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan Tuesday.
He added that the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza serves as a painful reminder of how unresolved injustices and prolonged oppression can become fertile ground for radicalisation — and a potent propaganda tool for terrorist groups.
'The horrific and deepening human suffering we continue to witness day by day may sow the seeds for radicalisation and actions of extremism.
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'Malaysia continues to advocate for a just, durable, and peaceful end to conflicts in line with international law and United Nations (UN) resolutions,' Mohamad said in his opening speech for the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) International Conference (SIC 2025) here.
The text of his speech was read by the Foreign Ministry's deputy secretary-general (Bilateral Affairs), Datuk Ahmad Rozian Abd Ghani.
Mohamad said the digital age, which has reshaped how we live, communicate, and engage, comes with increased vulnerability. Terrorist groups have adapted swiftly, exploiting the digital terrain to manipulate narratives, incite violence, and recruit with precision.
Extremist content now spreads rapidly online through livestreamed attacks, AI-generated propaganda, deepfakes, disinformation, and infiltration into gaming communities. The frontline has moved from physical battlegrounds to screens and servers, he added.
According to him, reality today demands anticipation - adaptive policies, digitally savvy governance, and strategies that are one step ahead of those with ill intentions.
On ASEAN, which is chaired by Malaysia this year, Mohamad said, the bloc's response to terrorism and violent extremism must not only be with one voice, but with collective urgency and mutual trust in this complex threat environment.
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