Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he revealed that he was a terrorist target to instil a sense of urgency in terms of national security, following the deadly Paris attack on Saturday.

He said what happened in Paris was worrying and should not be taken lightly.

"All parties should not take lightly the threat we face, especially in the context of the Islamic State (IS)," Hishammuddin said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

He said this when asked why he waited so long to reveal that he was a terrorist target, after finding out about it in June.

Hishammuddin said several cabinet ministers are also targets but he declined to name them.

Asked why Malaysia was being targeted, he said it was because of the moderate Islam practised by the country.

"Everything that goes against the IS is what Malaysia stands for," he added.

Despite the seriousness of the threat, Hishammuddin said Malayisia wouuld not be cowed into cancelling the upcoming Asean summit.

He also said there would be intelligence sharing efforts with France to determine how terrorists managed to slip into Paris.

He added that attempts to frighten Malaysia will not work.

"To me whoever wants to try to threaten, or scare us, won't be successful because of our determination.

"Although their approach is different from the last time when we faced Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah, Mat Selamat and Nordin Mat Top, all that is no different in the context that when we fight them, we will fight them to the end," he said.