Malaysia launched a new special operations unit – the National Special Operations Force (NSOF) – on 27 October. It will be the prime response unit for any terrorist incidents.
The move to establish NSOF is part of the Malaysian government’s overall restructuring of its security laws and apparatus to better deal with the threat from Muslim extremists.
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stated in parliament on 20 October that NSOF would be geared towards combating specific threats, chief among them being ISIS militants.
NSOF is composed of personnel from existing special operation forces: the Royal Malaysian Police’s Unit Tindak Khas special