The cooperation of all nations and mutual sharing of information are essential in tackling terrorist attacks, especially suicide bombers, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He added these bombers could inflict serious damage and could disguise themselves as tourists, office workers, ordinary people, factory workers, students and even preachers.

"The material they used to make bombs could be sourced even from the very vicinity they planned to attack.

"The manuals to make deadly explosives can also be obtained online," he said at the launching of the two-day International Conference on Deradicalisation and Countering Violence Extremism 2016 in Kuala Lumpur today.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak launched the conference.

Zahid said the exchange of ideas and experiences was crucial and hoped cooperation and mutual sharing of information could develop in the conference as well as in the years to come.

He said terrorism and violent extremism must be looked at with renewed urgency and a new as well a more comprehensive approach was needed in view of the constantly changing nature of terrorism and radical activities.

He pointed out that Malaysia had taken various steps to address such threats by strengthening its legislation and intensifying the operation of local law enforcement, intelligence and security forces.

"We have also widened our international cooperation. It is now time for us to enhance this cooperation and the effectiveness of our deradicalisation and rehabilitation programmes," he said.

He said the methods of rehabilitating terrorists should also be constantly reviewed and improved upon.

The conference saw the participation of ministers from Asean countries and nine of Malaysia's strategic partners namely Australia, France, Italy, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

- Bernama