IS militants want to recruit lecturers from Malaysia, Indonesia - Nur Jazlan

The Islamic State (IS) militant group is attempting to recruit lecturers skilled in weapons and explosives from Malaysia and Indonesia, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.

"They (IS) thought their movement cannot be traced but the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has managed to curb their activities," he said when commenting on a newspaper report on Saturday, of a plan to set up a South-east Asia IS led by Dr Mahmud Ahmad, a former lecturer from Malaysia.

Nur Jazlan said the plan to set up South-east Asia IS was a major threat for Malaysia and should not be underestimated.

"They profess the ideology of Middle East terrorists who are more extreme and more violent, such as the IS militant group.

"This is a threat to other South-east Asian countries. In order to deal with the IS militant group, we must monitor the internet as it is their main medium of communication where directives are sent out.