International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim has given an assurance its students are not influenced by unhealthy elements, including terrorist groups such as Daesh.

He said the university management was constantly improving its security surveillance to prevent any tendency towards extremism among its students.

"So far, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), we don't have any evidence of our students being involved in any terrorist group or Daesh," he told reporters after launching the IIUM-level Budi programme at the IIUM Cultural Activity Centre here today.

He said the university was always ready to work with security authorities if there were students involved with such groups, and would even surrender their identities for further action.

There were reports saying that those aged between 15 and 30, including school and university students had been persuaded to join militant groups in the name of 'jihad' (fighting in the name of religion).

On the programme, Rais, who is also Socio-Cultural Adviser to the Government, said apart from adding the Budi programme into its syllabus, the university would also introduce the 'Tokoh Budi' and 'Budi Tersohor' programme among IIUM lecturers and students.

He also encouraged all government agencies, schools, universities, colleges and police training centres to implement the Budi programme as part of their efforts to inculcate courtesy and noble values among the public.