Malaysia Day: Police heighten alert over Daish threat

The police have stepped up nationwide alert to thwart any attempt by Daish militants to disrupt the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

He said the police were not ruling out the terror threat following the arrest in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Pahang of three suspected Daish militants who had intended to launch attacks last Tuesday, the eve of National Day.

"We are not ruling out the possibility of some plan by these militants," he told reporters after witnessing the handing over of duties to the new Kedah Police chief at the Kedah Police headquarters here today.

Deputy Director of Management (Services/Personnel) at Bukit Aman Datuk Asri Yusoff assumed the post of Kedah Police chief today, taking over from Datuk Zamri Yahya who will assume Asri's post at Bukit Aman.

Noor Rashid said the police were monitoring the movement of several people whom they believe could spark trouble in the country. "These people are under the police radar. We will act when the time is right," he said.

Asri, 58, who hails from Kota Bharu, has been with the police force for 32 years.

He was Kedah Police deputy chief from 2007 to 2010. He was promoted as deputy director of management (services/personnel) at Bukit Aman on Dec 16, 2013.