A white paper on the threat of the militant group known as 'IS' will be tabled in Parliament soon, said Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said it was a proactive move by the government in checking the spread of IS in the country other than ensuring that the security forces had what was needed to defend national security.

Hishammuddin said Prime Minister Najib Razak was expected to table the white paper which was prepared with the cooperation of numerous quarters such as the Ministry of Defence, Home Ministry and national intelligence agency.

"This (IS threat) is not something which we have not gone through prior to this but the threat is new. Players, its actors are new and they use the social media and have a lot of money," the minister told reporters in Malacca today.

Earlier, Hishammuddin received the Darjah Gemilang Seri Melaka (DGSM) which carries the title Datuk Wira during the Melaka Investiture ceremony in conjunction with the 76th birthday of state governor Mohd Khalil Yaakob at Dewan Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh.

Hishammuddin said the IS militant group also saw those who were not with them as enemies and in this regard the government must find a way to face the group which was seen as very complex.

"I wish to announce to the people that the IS threat is something that we cannot take lightly, lately I have talked to many regional and international leaders on tackling the threat," he said.

During the ceremony which was also attended by Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron, Aceh governor Dr H Zaini Abdullah also received the DGSM (Honorary) which also carries the title Datuk Wira, while five others were awarded the Darjah Cemerlang Seri (DCSM) which carries the title Datuk Wira.

They were Public Service Department director-general Mohamad Zabidi Zainal; Inland Revenue Board director-general Mohd Shukor Mahfar; Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim; Umno executive secretary, who is also Masjid Tanah, Malacca Umno division chief, Datuk Ab Rauf Yusof, and Malacca State Development Corporation member of the board of directors R Ragavan.

A total 11 people were conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) which carries the title Datuk including Shah Alam High Court judge Abd Halim Aman; Malacca mufti Dr Mohd Mohadis Yasin; Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin; Government Security Office director-general Aloyah Mamat and Fisheries director-general Ismail Abu Hassan.

Meanwhile, 78 people received the Darjah Pangkuan Seri Melaka (DPSM) which also carries the title Datuk, among whom were Royal Customs Department state director Saadon Mohd Dros and Malacca Hospital director Dr Za'aba Baba while 26 people received the Darjah Seri Melaka (DSM) award.

Fifty-six people received the Bintang Cemerlang Melaka (BCM), Bintang Khidmat Terpuji (BKT) (89), Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) (137), Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM) (80) and Pingat Khidmat Lama (PKL) (17).

- Bernama