The police have detained three men suspected of involvement in Islamic State (IS) militant group activities in Perak, Malacca and Selangor. The suspects were picked up last Friday and Sunday.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in the first arrest, a police team nabbed a 21-year-old man at his home in Bagan Serai, Perak last Friday.

He said the suspect, who had taken the baiah (loyalty pledge) after joining IS early this year, was allegedly linked to members of Al-Qaeda and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

“The suspect had also admitted to having been taught by Mahmud Ahmad (a Malaysian who joined IS in the southern Philippines) and the militant group's bomb specialist from Saudi Arabia to create improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on a bigger scale.

“In fact, the suspect had built three IEDs,” he said in a statement here today.

Mohamad Fuzi said the suspect had also received an instruction from a Malaysian, who is a senior IS member in Syria, to purchase pistols, M-16 and AK-47 riffles, as well as hand grenades from a neighbouring country.

“They were meant for armed attacks on non-Muslims and their places of worship in Malaysia,” he said, adding that the police also seized chemical substances found at the suspect's house.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Fuzi said the second suspect, a 38-year-old cendol seller was detained in Malacca last Sunday.

“The suspect had planned to join IS in the southern Philippines and a militant group in Rakhine, Myanmar,” he said, adding that the man was also active in printing and distributing the militant group's flag to promote IS.

Subsequently, Mohamad Fuzi said the police detained a 41-year-old bus driver from Petaling Jaya on the same day for allegedly planning to join IS in Syria at year end.

All three suspects were being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, he added.

- Bernama