100 detained on suspicion of IS involvement - Ahmad Zahid

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this figure did not include the 61 Malaysians detected to be in Syria and Iraq as well as the 10 who had been killed.

"Officially, there are about 100 people who have been detained in prisons and other detention centres throughout the country, as well as several other individuals we are still monitoring and cannot announce," he told reporters after officiating the Multi-Nation Counter Terrorism Exercise (MNCTX) at the Langkawi International Shooting Range, here today.

He said the government was monitoring and following up all information received and collected from intelligence work in connection with the IS hot zones.

Meanwhile, commenting on the MNCTX, Ahmad Zahid said the first-ever exercise was participated by security forces from 10 Asean nations and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"This is the first time the Malaysian Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysia Police are holding joint training in anti-terrorism, with participation from Asean member countries and the UAE," he said.

He said the seven-day exercise was being held following the threat of the IS which jeopardised the country as well as the Asean region.

"This exercise will continue to be held in the future if there is a need for our security forces to be prepared to face the security threats, especially the IS," he said.

He added that because the security threat was seen as real, early preparations had to be made by both security forces so that they were prepared to take action.

"Besides the exercise, we also take preventive steps against security threats by monitoring the social media to check on efforts to recruit and collect funds," he said.

Also present were Chief of Defence Forces Jeneral Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri as well as senior officials of both security forces.