The Home Ministry today warned of stern action against people caught producing and distributing a Malay-language newspaper believed to be a Daish publication that is illegal in the country.

Deputy Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said action would be taken after the ministry identified the producer and distributor of the newspaper and determined how they got hold of the newspaper for distribution in the country.

"It is impossible to import the newspaper because the Royal Malaysia Customs monitors all forms of publication that enter the country. We will find out whether the print version is distributed or it is a version downloaded from the Internet," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Nur Jazlan was asked to comment on local media reports of attempts by the Daish militant group to recruit fresh followers through the circulation of its propaganda in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Philippines and southern Thailand through the newspaper.

The first edition of the 20-page newspaper was launched in the southern Philippines on June 20 and its contents were circulated online and on social media.

Nur Jazlan said offenders would be penalised under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (Amendment) 2012 for not having a printing licence or publication permit.

He also said that such a publication did not only confuse the people but also undermined security and threatened national harmony.

Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Special Branch Director Datuk Seri Mohamad Fuzi Harun asked the ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to prevent the online distribution of the newspaper to deny access to people in the country.

He said police suspected that a Facebook account and a Twitter account that had uploaded the newspaper operated out of the Philippines and was run by Indonesians and Malaysians there.

"The police have sought the cooperation of the Philippines to provide information to trace those behind the activity," he said.

Mohamad Fuzi said the police would not compromise in matters related to Daish and would track down the culprits.

He also said that the police were constantly monitoring the social media platforms operated by the militant group to spread its propaganda.