The police had previously urged state governments to concentrate entertainment centres in a centralised location to make it easier to provide security.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar revealed this at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, where he said entertainment centres are being targeted by the self-styled Islamic State for purportedly being ‘un-Islamic’.

“This is why prior to this, I had suggested state governments concentrate entertainment centres in one location, so that it would be easier for authorities to monitor them.

“Now, our entertainment centres are all over a place and authorities find it difficult to maintain security at these scattered places.

“If gathered at one spot, I think that would be better and it would be easier us to control,” he told reporters.

He was asked whether owners of nightspots should take extra precautions, in the wake of the grenade attack at Movida in Puchong last week.

The attack had left eight people injured, and marked the first IS attack on Malaysian soil.

Apart from boosting security, Khalid said that placing entertainment outlets in one place would also make it easier for local authorities to ensure that conditions imposed upon them are adhered to.

He also urged the outlets to abide by these conditions, apart from ensuring that potential militants do not enter the venues.

“If you are supposed to close at 12am, then close at 12am. Don’t open until 5 in the morning when the orders are to close at 12am.

“This would make it easier for these (militant) groups to enter these places (entertainment outlets), because they know that if they strike at that time, security is more relaxed.

“So these are among the steps that they should take,” he said.

On its part, Khalid said the police had already beefed up security, but had done so unannounced so not to cause panic.

Apart from entertainment centres, he also listed senior government officials, senior police officers, and judges as potential IS targets, since these people are seen as a hindrance to their activities.

Asked if other places are being targeted, Khalid said that IS had planned to do so, which is why the police intervened by arresting 15 people over the past week and holding today’s press conference to appeal for information on two more individuals.

However, the police were unable to determine the locations being targeted.

“We are not able to say that. You see, they give their instructions when the attacks are about to be launched, so we would not be able to know,” he said.

Asked why Movida was targeted instead of a more popular location such as Bukit Bintang, Khalid curtly replied, “When we arrest them, we will ask them why.”