Mohamad: Israel-Iran conflict could embolden terrorist networks
KUALA LUMPUR: The conflict between Israel and Iran has heightened regional instability and could possibly embolden transnational terrorist networks.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the conflict adds another layer of complexity to today's world, with ripple effects that could also deepen sectarian divides far beyond West Asia.
"Let us be clear, terrorism has no religion, no race and no legitimacy.
"Any attempt to associate Islam or any religion with terrorism is not only factually wrong, it is morally unjustifiable. Malaysia stands firmly against such misrepresentations," he said.
He said this in his speech read by Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Datuk Rozian Abd Ghani at the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism International Conference.
Mohamad said Asean must act with a unified voice, with collective urgency and mutual trust.
He reaffirmed that Malaysia continues to advocate for a just, durable and peaceful end to conflicts in line with international law and United Nations resolutions.
Meanwhile, he said radicalisation today thrives in digital shadows, embedded in algorithms, amplified in echo chambers and hidden behind anonymity.
"The real question is not whether these threats exist, but whether we are prepared and united to confront them.
"Our strategies must be human-centred, technology-aware and responsive to local realities.
"Regional responses must marry empathy with innovation, and policy with practical action," he said.
Mohamad said the global security landscape remains volatile, with terrorism evolving through a combination of ideological extremism, political grievances and geopolitical conflict.
He also warned of emerging threats, including digital radicalisation, the weaponisation of artificial intelligence and the use of cryptocurrencies to fund terrorism.
"The digital age has reshaped how we live, communicate and engage. Yet with this transformation comes increased vulnerability.
"Terrorist groups have adapted swiftly, exploiting the digital terrain to manipulate narratives, incite violence and recruit with precision," he said.
The frontline of extremism, he added, has shifted from physical battlegrounds to digital spaces, where extremist content proliferates through livestreamed attacks, AI-generated propaganda, deepfakes, misinformation and even infiltration into gaming platforms.
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