(Nov 18): Malaysia is listed among 27 countries under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states that have contributed to foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria this year, data in the World Terrorism Index 2015 revealed.

Based on estimates available until last month, Malaysia came in at number 17, with around 250 people who left the country to join the conflict, a report on the index said.

The estimates, however, are based on the number of fighters who have left the country ?to join any armed group, but not limited to militant group Isis.

Top of the chart among OIC members who contributed fighters to Iraq and Syria is Tunisia, where 5,000 are said to have joined the war.

Saudi Arabia cam in second, with an estimated 2,500 people.

Outside OIC, Russia and France contributed the most foreign fighters.

According to the index, between 25,000 and 30,000 foreign fighters are estimated to have arrived in Syria and Iraq since 2011.

The figure was 7,000 for the first six months of this year.

The index also lists the downing of MH17 as among the 20 most fatal terrorist attacks last year, describing the July 17 incident in Ukraine where assailants launched a surface-to-air missile at the Malaysia Airlines aircraft, killing 298 onboard the Amsterdam-Kuala Lumpur flight.

Overall, Malaysia came in 49th in the measure of the impact of terrorism worldwide, scoring 3.579, where a score of ten denotes the highest impact of terrorism.

The index noted that terrorism continues to rise, with 2014 as the bloodiest year, in which more than 32,000 people were killed in terrorist attacks, the highest figure recorded.

The index, now in its third year, provides an analysis of the changing trends in terrorism in 162 countries over the last 15 years.

In Malaysia, police are doubling their efforts as Malaysia prepares to host United States President Barack Obama and a host of other world leaders at the Asean summit, following the deadly attacks in Paris last Friday.

The police’s counter-terrorism unit has increased their monitoring of militant networks in the region ahead of the Asean summit.

Some 129 people were killed and hundreds injured when gunmen stormed a restaurant, a concert hall and a football game in Paris on Friday night.

Isis claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have been condemned around the world, as well as by top Muslim figures.

The report also noted that when deaths from battles are considered alongside deaths from terrorism, Isis would be viewed as by far the most destructive terrorist group in 2014. – The Malaysian Insider