Malaysian authorities have arrested 15 people, including a police officer, suspected of links to Islamic State and of planning an attack in the country, the police chief said on today.

The announcement came after Tuesday's bombings in Brussels by Islamic State that killed at least 31 people and injured 270.

Muslim-majority Malaysia has been on high alert since Islamic State-linked militants carried out an armed attack in the capital of neighbouring Indonesia in January.

Some of the suspects received orders from Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi, a Malaysian IS recruiter in Syria, to launch an attack on Malaysia, inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement.

They were involved in collecting funds to be channelled to an IS-linked group in the southern Philippines and arranging the movement of "two foreign terror suspects" from Malaysia to a Southeast Asian country, Khalid said.

Trying to acquire chemicals to make bombs

Other activities included attempting to acquire chemicals to make bombs, recruiting Malaysians to join Islamic State in Syria, collecting funds from IS sympathisers in Malaysia and setting up working arrangements with militant groups around Southeast Asia, he said.

"Between March 22 and 24, the Special Branch counter-terrorism unit launched an operation in seven states, including the capital of Kuala Lumpur," Khalid said, adding that the suspects included one aircraft technician and a Muslim preacher.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said earlier this month that police had foiled an IS plot to kidnap Prime Minister Najib Razak and other senior ministers last year.

Malaysia has arrested at least 160 people since January 2015 on suspicion of being involved in militant activities, including seven believed to have been part of an IS cell.

Tighter security measures at airports

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has taken immediate actions to further strengthen security measures in airports nationwide following Brussels Airport bombing incident last Tuesday.

An MAHB spokesperson said the actions include tighter control over the issuance of airport security passes and increase in patrol frequency by aviation security personnel.

"We have also increased inspections on all access doors as well as heightening the overall security checks at all security checkpoints involving passengers, goods and airport personnel," he told Bernama when contacted today.

He added that collaboration between MAHB and all relevant agencies and authorities had also been enhanced to ensure highest level of security at the airports.

At least 34 people were killed and 180 others injured after explosions at Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek metro in Brussels on Tuesday.

- Reuters