Malaysia’s Terrorist Disengagement Program: COIN Theory Into Intelligence Practice.

Malaysia is one country that has embraced bridging the theory vs. practice divide through its holistic security approach by implementing terrorist disengagement programs that have shown positive results in intelligence gathering, detainee responses, and rehabilitation. The concept of disengagement is a necessary element in Malaysia's successful and comprehensive counter-terrorism strategies and policies. Malaysia's successful terrorist rehabilitation program utilizes a variety of actors such as academics, psychologists, policy makers, police, intelligence personnel, and religious leaders that have shaped this successful security program and Malaysia's underlying disengagement security philosophy. Malaysia's Internal Security Acts fluid nature allows all of these actors to contribute to intelligence gathering and Malaysia's intelligence organization, the Special Branch. The successful lessons learned in bridging counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism theories and practices by academics, Special Branch, and decision makers is assessed in Malaysia's successful terrorist disengagement programs. All actors have had a positive impact on government policy and the intelligence apparatus culminating in the Malaysian Rehabilitation program, security philosophy and strategic framework. In examining the Malaysian counter-terrorism program a methodology of conducted interviews in the field accompanied by primary and secondary sources will be applied. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]