The Royal Malaysian Navy constantly monitors its personnel to ensure that they do not get dragged into militant activities such as of the Islamic State group, said Navy chief Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.

He said surveillance was also carried out over the social media with the cooperation of the Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces.

"We have to understand the propaganda of these (militant) groups because there are several levels of it. They spread it over websites to make us sympathise with them and to incite us.

"Then, we will get influenced and, without realising it, we give them moral support and material... That is why it is important for us to monitor and spread awareness before we are trapped," he said.

He spoke to reporters after the 'Donning of Ranks' for nine RMN's officers, five of them honorary navy volunteer reserves, in Kuala Lumpur today.

On another matter, Ahmad Kamarulzaman said the intelligence element must be given priority in countering the threat of piracy in Malaysian waters.

He said it was hoped that the trilateral cooperation among Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines in handling the maritime security issue in the Sulu Sea could be established as soon as possible.

Last Thursday, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the Malacca Straits Patrol Initiative might be adopted as the model for the trilateral cooperation to address common maritime security in the Sulu Sea.

The three nations had agreed to enhance defence cooperation in the Sulu Sea to put a stop to kidnapping and criminal activities in the area, he said.

- Bernama