A whooping 519 people have been arrested by the Malaysian police for their suspected involvement in terrorism as of July 2019.

Malaysians and foreigners comprised those arrested.

No breakdown of the numbers were given.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin revealed these figures on Monday, Aug. 26 at a press conference, Bernama reported.

Likely detained without trial

Muhyiddin said: “These people were found to have been involved in activities that we consider as terrorism in the context of the criminal laws and the effect (of these activities) is that they carry threats."

“They were detained under the enforcement of the existing laws, regardless of whether it is the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA) or Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA).”

Some of the suspects have been convicted, said Muhyiddin, citing police records.

Although not revealed, those who have not been convicted are likely to be held without trial.

Existing laws

The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (POTA) enables the Malaysian authorities to detain terror suspects without trial for a period of two years.

POTA also does not allow any judicial reviews of detentions.

The POTA bill has been criticised by opposition elements as a reincarnation of the former Internal Security Act, which was revoked in 2012.

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 is another controversial law supposedly "to provide for special measures relating to security offences for the purpose of maintaining public order and security and for connected matters".

The Act was introduced by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, and approved in Parliament on April 17, 2012.

Examples of terrorism activities

In May this year, Malaysian police said they had detained the three remaining suspects of an Islamic State "wolf pack" believed to have been planning big-scale attacks and assassinations in Klang Valley.

Later that month, the authorities announced they had arrested three more terror suspects.

One of them is a Malaysian contractor who was seized at Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he was leaving for Egypt with plans to ultimately head to Syria.

Top photo via Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Unit, Royal Malaysian Police