The police detained four alleged members of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) organisation, which has been linked to the recent Bali bomb attack, under the Internal Security Act today.

Two of the four had received military training in Afghanistan, and one was linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden, said Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai at a press conference.

Asked whether they were directly connected to the weekend attack in neighbouring Indonesia which killed more than 180 people, mostly western tourists, Norian said: "I don't think so."

The four are Shaari Mustapha, 35, Nik Abdul Rahman Mustapha@Afifi, 28, Abdul Murad Sudin, 39, Azahar Abdul Samad, 32.

Shaari is a religious school teacher from Kelantan, who graduated from Pakistan's Karachi University.

Nik Abdul, who also hails from Kelantan, was a student in Pakistan and was the one alleged to have ties with al-Qaeda.

The duo were also said to have undergone military training in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, businessmen Abdul Murad, from Perak and Azahar, from Pahang, were alleged to be Malaysian Mujahidin Group (KMM) leaders in their respective states.

Norian said the four did have links to groups outside of Malaysia and when Indonesian authorities announced who was behind the blast in Bali, police here would investigate any link.

Patrols increased

Asked if Malaysia could be the next target for terrorists Norian said: "We take the necessary precautions.

"We have increased patrols at foreign missions that we think can be a target. We have put up additional patrols at the Australian High Commission."

Norian said the four were not key leaders but "they play an important role in each state."

The police chief said the latest detentions bring the total number of alleged militants held here since last November to 71.

He said operations to track down more JI members would continue, as eight suspects with rewards on their heads had not been found.

"The ones with rewards on their heads are the leaders and we have not managed to track them down yet. They are still missing."

Norian said last month the eight were believed to have fled to either Indonesia or Thailand, and announced a RM50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of any of the eight.

He said then that local operatives took their orders from alleged JI leader Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali, and Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.

Hambali, an Indonesian, is described as being in charge of the JI in Malaysia and Singapore, and is suspected of having direct links to al-Qaeda.

Hambali's whereabouts are unknown, but Abu Bakar Bashir lives openly in Indonesia and denies any link to terrorism.

Intense pressure

Indonesia has come under intense pressure to act against Bashir and JI members in the aftermath of the Bali attack, but has so far insisted it has no evidence the organisation is active in the country.

Neighbouring Singapore has also arrested alleged JI members a total of more than 30 since last December on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks.

The government said JI's ultimate aim was to create an Islamic state covering Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the southern Philippines island of Mindanao and Brunei.