Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed worry that the influence of the Islamic State (IS) is strongest in the institutions of higher education.

“We are worried that the strongest influence (of IS) is in higher education institutions and that this is not just happening in Malaysia but also in other countries, as reported by international media,” Zahid said.

He was speaking to reporters at the Hari Raya Open House housed by the prime minister and members of the cabinet at the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya today.

It was reported two of the six ­militants who stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on Friday studied at the Malaysian campus of Monash University - Rohan Ibne Babul (right), the son of a Bangladeshi politician, and ­­Nibras Islam (left). 

Twenty people, including Italians, Japanese, Indians and Americans, died in the attack.

The duo, both 20, was among five of the militants killed when police stormed the upmarket restaurant on Saturday morning.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said the authorities are monitoring the activities of those who have had communication with the IS through the social media or other channels of communication.

Whoever does anything to threaten the safety of the country will definitely be arrested, he said.

“The police have taken steps to ensure such incidents will not happen again. The police are always ready to face any situation,” he said.

On June 28, grenade explosion took place at a nightspot in Puchong, which inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed to be an act by the IS.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said he has instructed heightened security at all airports in the country.

The police have given their full cooperation in providing more manpower for security at airports, Liow said.

Security has been also tightened at train stations even, he said, especially at the KL Sentral.

“We know that there are a lot of flaws in the security at KL Sentral because, previously, it wasn't an entry point from KLIA, but now that it is, security there has to be heightened,” Liow said.

KL Sentral will have similar security checks as KLIA, in case security at KLIA missed anything, he explained.

“I think the rakyat need not panic. We are still stable and we are always monitoring IS activities within the country,” Liow added.

'Be united and work together'

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also called on the people to be proactive in preventing IS activities and not just to rely on the authorities.

"We Malaysians should be united and work together as responsible citizens, in the context that we have to work together with authorities.

"We should take notice of what is happening around us. We should not just be concerned with our own business," Asyraf said.

IS uses non-conventional methods to spread its ideologies, through the social media in an organised manner, he pointed out.

This is why everyone needs to cooperate in order to stop them by putting aside political and religious ideals, Asyraf said.

"What has happened in Medina is a manifestation that terrorism knows no religion," he said.

On Monday, suicide bombers struck three cities in Saudi Arabia, including Medina, in an apparently coordinated campaign of attacks.

The UN human rights chief on Tuesday described the bombing outside the Prophet Muhammad Mosque in Medina as "an attack on Islam itself" and many Muslims expressed shock that their second-holiest site had been targeted.