The arrests of two male Turkish nationals believed to be involved in activities which threaten national security were made after police intercepted communications between the two, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid who is also Home Minister said following information obtained from the Regional Digital Counter-Messaging Communications Centre, Bukit Aman Special Branch''s Counter Terrorism Division launched an operation to detain the two suspects, aged 43 and 37 years.

He was commenting on the arrests of two Turkish males whose wives claimed were kidnapped but were later confirmed by the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar that they had been arrested for threatening national security.

The two men, Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan, are now being detained under Section 130 of the Penal Code.

On the claims of their wives that the men were innocent and the arrests were made based purely on accusations or assumptions, Ahmad Zahid said: "If what the wives said that the two individuals are not involved, then the police will not be cruel and will let them go."

"However, we must respect the information obtained by the police and they have traced several communications," he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the 2017 International Wasatiyyah Seminar "Fiqh Wala'' and Obedience: Their Role in Prospering the Nation" at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today.

Commenting further, Ahmad Zahid said the Anti-Terrorism Division of Bukit Aman had also tracked the movements of several individuals in spreading, influencing and providing funds to Daesh-related activities and the two Turkish individuals were in the list.

He said the two men would be taken to the POCA (Prevention of Crime Act), POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), and the SOSMA (Security Offences (Special Measures) Act) panels for further investigation before a decision is made to take the matter to court or not.

"Don''t worry, the police will not be cruel to anyone and if they are really not involved or their involvement is minimal, we give the assurance to their families that they will be released," he said.

-- BERNAMA