The government will not make arrangements to bring back the body or bodies of Malaysians who are killed in conflicts or combat after joining terrorist groups.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid said families are free to make their own arrangements.

"This is because such individuals who are killed while carrying out illegal activities or doing so at their own risk and if their families want to bring back their bodies they will have to get in touch with their colleagues of the dead," he told reporters after opening the 2017 Perak Young Agropreneur Tour programme, here today.

Ahmad Zahid who is also the Home Minister said the government would not recognise such deaths because they are killed while participating in activities of terrorist groups.

"If there is a religious decree (fatwa) from anyone that such deaths are a form of martyrdom, the government will not recognise such deaths as ''syuhadah''," he said.

Ahmad Zahid was commenting on reports that a Malaysia, Mohd Nizam Ariffin, 38 or known as Abu Afghan who was involved in the Daish militant group was killed in a battle against Iraq''s security forces on Friday.

"The Home Ministry has confirmed the death of Mohd Nizam after receiving an intelligence report through the police," he said adding that the death of Mohd Nizam would raise the total number of Malaysians killed in Iraq and Syria has reached 31, while 56 more are still at large.

Meanwhile, when asked about the decision of several countries to list a famous religious scholar Sheikh Dr Yusuf Al-Qaradawi as a terrorist, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia will keep its options open.

Asked if Malaysia would follow in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ahmad Zahid said: "We will wait for a report from various parties and if any individuals are involved we will get detailed information from reliable sources."

Last week, the four countries severed diplomatic ties with Qatar after listing religious scholar Ikhwanul Muslimin among 59 individuals suspected to have funded terrorist groups and had received support from Qatar.

He said Yusuf Al-Qaradawi was a religious icon who was awarded the Tokoh Maal Hijrah award in 2009 and that award was given to him for his contributions. - BERNAMA