The lack of technical expertise to devise bombs serves as a handicap to locals affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) militants from launching attacks in the country.

The materials to produce a bomb can easily be bought online but they lack the expertise to assemble the bombs, says principal assistant director of the Counter-Terrorism Division of the Special Branch in Bukit Aman, Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay.

"Nevertheless, Malaysian IS-aligned members are believed to have strong ideological commitment.

"Although lacking in technical expertise, Malaysian IS members should not be given a chance to launch an attack in the country," he told reporters after a briefing on IS terrorists at the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Kedah auditorium in Alor Setar today.

Ayub Khan said since 2013, as many as 150 Malaysians who were members of the terrorist group had been arrested, adding that 24 of those detained were women.

To counter IS-linked threats, the Malaysian authorities had stepped up security at strategic points, such as government and key foreign buildings, he said.

According to him, what happened in Paris, France two days ago which saw about 130 people killed in a militant attack was not something unexpected.

Ayub Khan said this was because police intelligence had revealed that the IS leader known as 'Mohammad Al-Adnani', had already ordered his militants not to go to Syria and Iraq anymore.

Instead, he directed them to launch attacks in their respective countries.

In addressing and combating IS threats, he said the police relied on preventive operations which required intelligence information.

- Bernama