Malaysian man, woman held over alleged links to IS

A Malaysian man and a woman believed to be linked to the IS militant group in Syria have been held at the KL International Airport, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

They were arrested separately, on March 7 and 19, he said in a statement.

Khalid said the woman, a 28-year-old housewife from Kedah, was held on March 7 as she was about to depart for a country neighbouring Syria.

The 29-year-old man, a civil servant from Sabah who had left his job in December 2012, was held as he returned to Malaysia on March 19 after having gone to Syria, he said.

Khalid said the man had tried to enter Malaysia using a passport of a neighbouring country that he had obtained illegally.

He said it was suspected that the man returned to Malaysia to recruit several others to join the IS and that he had a close relationship with a Malaysian who was an IS member in Syria.