Colonel Jihad is a name given by a daily (The STAR) reporter to an army officer who was arrested by the Malaysian government under the Internal Security Act (ISA), a dreadful law of which with the authority of the Home Affairs Minister anyone suspected to be involved in activity that deems threatening the national security can be arrested and detained for two years or more without trial by the court of law. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Malaysian army and he was detained under ISA because of an allegation of him being a member (an operative) of al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah.

He is Abdul Manaf bin Kasmuri a.k.a Abu Muhammad was born in Klang in 1955, a former 'Boy or Putera' of Royal Military College (RMC), Malaysia. He attended a pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit (Pre-OCTU)in Port Dickson before continuing his military training in Officer Cadet Wing of RMC. Just before his completion of the Senior Cadet (Regular Officer Batch) training stage in 1975 he was selected to advance his study in one of the most prestigious military training center in the world the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, the UK. He became known with a number of great achievements and recognitions where he was awarded the prestigious Baton of Honour for being the non-British Best Officer Cadet and Sultan of Brunei Medal as the most outstanding foreign officer in out-door and social activities. He went back to serve the country in the Royal Malay Regiment and had attained an excellent record of service and known among his peers as an accomplished army officer.He raised to the rank of Lt Col at the age of 38 year old.

He opted to retire from the service in 1995 after a UN duty in Bosnian conflict. As soon as his retirement was made official, he went back to Bosnia and became one of the foreign volunteers serving the Bosnian Army to response the President Alija Izetbegovic's plea for help in March 1995. He was stationed in Zenica, about 50 km north of Sarajevo with Odred Mudjahideen under the command of 3rd Corps of Bosnia Armija. After the war he was active in humanitarian works especially in conflict areas mainly assisting with the distribution of relief goods and medical services to the displaced people. Between 1995 and 2002, the job had brought him to many countries such as Kosovo, Azzad Kashmir, Afghanistan, Pakistan Northern Frontiers, Burma-Bangladesh Border and in Ambon, Indonesia. In early 2003, he was detained for almost 3 years 8 months in Kamunting Detention camp under ISA. He was released in Oct 2006 and is now writing a book about his experience and adventure. As mentioned, it is purportedly for the younger generation to ponder, to appreciate and to emulate his good works over the years while reminding them of their responsibility to the world community who need helps in the events of natural disaster or human tragedy. He named his maiden biography 'COLONEL JIHAD' which is written in his native language, Bahasa Melayu.

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