SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCES ON THE ISIS MOVEMENT AMONG POTA DETAINEES IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Abstract: The growing influence and use of social media is significant with the increase in extremists’ movement including Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Movement in Malaysia. However, the sophistication of social media usage has become a challenge to National Security because this application has become the main platform for the ISIS Movement to spread their ideology through online media. Hence, this study aims to identify a significant type of social media to influence the involvement of some detainees detained of The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA) in Malaysia. This study used the qualitative method through document analysis and interview involving four detainees of POTA at Simpang Renggam Prison, Johor Bharu, Malaysia. The findings showed that the movement was using social media medium including Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp to influence POTA detainees. The implications of this study provide exposure to the public society about the type of social medium used by the movement as a strategy of motion struggle. This study is expected to help parties involve such as Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) and the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) to eradicate the ideology of movement that could affect national security.