Lonely women are susceptible to be charmed by Islamic State militants, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom.

He said lonely women are more fragile and spend more time on social media where they could be wooed by the IS.

"Usually, lonely women who can't sleep at night will stay up and surf Facebook (until) 2 to 3am.

"Usually at that hour, social media is quite lax. It is during this time that members of the militant movement will prey on their victims and influence these women," Jamil Khir ( left ) said during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

In order to successfully woo the women, he said the militants will share their life stories, shower the women with love and make them feel like they're on cloud nine.

"After feeling the love (the women) will feel like they're in the clouds [...] The women are trapped between social media and their loneliness, and then are wooed that cradles their feelings.

Willing to buy tickets

"Finally when they are invited to go there (to join IS) they are willing to buy tickets," Jamil Khir said.

He added that women were so susceptible and that even 14-year-old teenagers can be wooed by IS propaganda.

Between 2001 till April 7 this year, 173 Malaysians have gone overseas to join militant groups, including the IS, the minister said.

He said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will write an anti-Islamic State for Friday sermons to explain the true meaning of jihad once a month and also to discourage Malaysians from taking up the militant cause.

The government will also publish more materials on true jihad and the dangers of the IS, he added.