Journal of Administrative Science Vol.16, Issue 1, 2019, pp. 34-50 Available online at http:jas.uitm.edu.my Religious Extremism & its Recruitment Methods: An Analysis Muhd Imran Abd Razak1, Rahimin Affandi Abdul Rahim2, Mohd Anuar Ramli 3, Muhammad Yusri Yusof @Salleh 4, Paiz Hassan5, Nurhidha Irawaty Kasmaruddin 6 1,4,5Academy Contemporary of Islamic Studies (ACIS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia 2,3Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 6Academy of Language Studies (APB),Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia Abstract History has noted that the process of Islamic development in the archipelago is relatively peaceful. The Islamic community in the region has never been involved with terrorism and extremism in the spread of Islam and the process of interaction with non-Muslims living with them. However, the situation began to change with the emergence of extreme and radical elements into the life of the Muslim community in the archipelago in general and in Malaysia in particular. The elements were brought into the archipelago as it was considered the most strategic region to be the center of terrorism movement, as the al-Qaeda group, the Jemaah Islamiyyah, and the latest group of Daesh. Therefore, this study examines the process of dissemination of the ideology of extremism of Daesh groups in Malaysia through social media mediums. Based on qualitative methods, the data is critically analyzed about why it appears and how best to perform counter-terrorism action against the Daesh group. The findings found that social media played the most critical and effective role in the spreading of ideology of extremism and recruitment of new members of the Daesh group worldwide including Malaysia. Keywords: Daesh, social media, religious, extremism INTRODUCTION Received: 11 December 2018 Accepted: 25 May 2019 In general, religious extremism refers to extreme ideas Published: 28 June 2019 that affiliate the acts of violence with Islam in spite of the fact that it is contrary to Islamic law itself. Along with the aspiration of the National Security Policy 2017 which emphasizes on sovereignty, security and harmony from terrorist threats in Malaysia, this study analysed the extremism ideology and spread of the Daesh movement especially in social media in Malaysia. The reasons of its arising and how to best deal with terrorist encounters in Daesh are analyzed. Discussion includes the history of extremism in 34 eISSN 2600-9374 © 2019 Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia Journal of Administrative Science Vol.16, Issue 1, 2019 Malay Archipelago, extremism reality in modern world, their recruitment methodology and detection of the extremist in higher education institutions in Malaysia. LITERATURE REVIEW Extremism in the Malay Archipelago: A Historical Highlight The classical history of the Malay Archipelago has recorded that aside from the unforgettable event in Aceh (the opposition of Nurudin Raniri and Hamzah Fansuri), there was basically no movement of extremism detected at the point of time. Nonetheless, this was denied by the colonial scholars. In regard of this, they utilize the colonial knowledge, as described by Knaap (1994, p. 637-652) as following: “In order to rule the colonies properly, the colonial power of the time was of the opinion that they needed not only a strong army and navy and a well-trained civil service, but also scholarly and practical knowledge of the indigenous society. Scholarly interest in the colonies can thus be interpreted as an offspring of the process of colonial state formation. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, in England and France as well as in the Netherlands, all sorts of journals came into being to disseminate knowledge about the colonies. Few of these journals survived the wave of decolonization after the Second World War. In the Netherlands only two survived, Bijdragen and (Nieuwe) West- IndischeGids, founded in 1919. The other well-known journal on Southeast Asia from this period that is still in eistence is the Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, founded in 1878.” Among the international community through scientific journals (such as JRAS), they disseminated that the Malay Muslim was involved in terrorist activities that fought the colonialists. Raffles, for instance, stressed that the process of Islamization of the Malay Archipelago which was initiated by the early missionaries was full of coercion as well as tricks and tactics. They also taught the Malays of the Malay Archipelago to be violent in Europe as a result of the spirit of the Crusades in the Middle East (Syed, 2003, p.13-29). It is generated and performed by religious scholars through hajj institutions (Bruinessen, 1992, p.3-14). This is evident in a series of opposition towards the colonial parties such as Padri War, Pattani War, Bahamian War in Pahang, and many more (Lukmanul Hakim, 2008). 35 eISSN 2600-9374 © 2019 Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia Journal of Administrative Science Vol.16, Issue 1, 2019 The colonists made the Aceh government as their main target. The Aceh rulers were described as a violent government and practices discrimination towards westerners with different religions (Hurgronje, 1985). Portuguese historian has written how the Aceh government refused to communicate well when they were faced with a group of Portuguese traders. The Portuguese historical record explains that the Portuguese tried several times to avoid warfare, as their goal was to trade with other governments in the Malay Archipelago. They also exaggerated over the greatness and powerfulness of the Portuguese armed forces compared to the Aceh team of army. The Aceh Rulers are said to be trying to monopoly the spice source in the Malay Archipelago by attacking and destroying black pepper fields in other areas. Aceh is also said to have been attacking other regions in order to expand its power and is followed by the basis of bringing back the prisoners of war to Aceh to serve as slaves and concubines (Smith, 2007).These servants are said to have been mistreated by the people of Aceh. The people of Aceh are said to have many slaves and concubines for the sake of the interests of Aceh people (Mitrasing, 2011). The western scholars as well as foreign travelers written note has profoundly described Aceh’s practice of hudud law is a system that is very cruel and inhumane (Jajat, 2014, p.25-58). The Malay scholars, through the Occidentalism discipline, has proved this allegation as incorrect, as all these opposites are not terrorism but made for the sake of safeguarding the dignity of Muslims through the concept of jihad. Modern Islamic Extremism Attacks In the era of 1990 to 2000, this reality has changed when Muslims through Qaedah and Jemaah Islamiyyah carried out various acts of violence that sacrifice the lives of the public. Throughout the year 2001 to 2005, various acts of violence were carried out, with the first beginning occurred on the September 11th, 2001, Bali Bombing and many more. According to Azra Ayumardi, the bombing in Bali can be said as a new phase of violence and terror in the country. From that moment on, it then sparked a series of bombings in many parts of Indonesia (Azra, 2003). Throughout the year 2000 to 2005, there were many other bombings such as the bombing incident in Hotel J.W. Marriot in 2003, Australian Embassy bombing incident in 2004 and Bali Bombing II in 2005. According to Bilveer Singh (2017), a researcher in Singapore, the Southeast Asian community seemed to think that after the 2002 Bali Bombings, the influence of 36 eISSN 2600-9374 © 2019 Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia Journal of Administrative Science Vol.16, Issue 1, 2019 the Jemaah Islamiyyah - Qaedah had died. This is because the important figures in the Jemaah Islamiyyah are either dead, arrested or kept silent. Bilveer Singh (2017, p.5-7) explains as following: “By 2011, however, JI appeared to have been severely degraded with its key military and ideological leaders either dead or detained; some broke away to form splinter groups. Among those killed or executed included operatives such as AzahariHusin (2005), Imam Samudra (2008), Nordin M Top (2009), and Dulmatin (2010). Leaders under detention include Abu Bakar Bashyir, Hambali, and Abu Dujana. The organization's structure and networks were also believed to have been severely disrupted. Globally, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's IS has superseded AQ as the leading global jihadi movement and key security threat. The killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011, and expansion of IS in Iraq and Syria culminating in the declaration of a caliphate in June 2014, have eroded AQ’s position as the base of jihad. In Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, counter-terrorism measures are believed to have crippled JI and rendered it ineffective. In Indonesia alone, more than 110 JI members have been killed and 1,200 imprisoned.” It literally means, the Southeast Asian community seems to think that the influence of the Jemaah Islamiyyah has been completely dead. In this regard, Bilveer Singh warned that this claim was inaccurate. This is because the latest interview with Abu Rushdan reveals that the Jemaah Islamiyyah has made profits with the rapid development of ISIL. He explained some changes in the tactics of the movement and the profits of the Jemaah Islamiyah. After 2011, the world was shocked by the radicalism movement executed by the Daesh. Compared to the Jemaah Islamiyyah, Daesh is more prominent in several matters: 1. The ability to use the Internet such as YouTube and other social media tools to influence new members.