Malysian police to hunt down IS militants threatening attacks

Malaysian police to hunt down IS militants who issue threats on social media to frighten people.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian police have vowed to hunt down IS militants who issue threats on social media to frighten people after the dreaded outfit recently released video clips threatening to topple the governments in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia's special branch police director Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the police will not compromise in case of anyone trying to spread the Islamic State ideology in the country.

"We will monitor all aspects, including YouTube video clips, a medium often used by this group to intimidate the people," Harun said.

"They use the social media as a platform to threaten attacks against the country, and we must strengthen the laws to check these undesirable events,"

Harun told state-owned Bernama news agency.

Police said that investigations had found conclusive evidence that the attack on a night club here last week was an act of terror by IS elements in the country.

According to the police, the suspects have received direct orders from the IS operative Wanndy to launch attacks on senior leaders, police top brass and judges, especially those who had taken action against IS members.

"The main targets were listed by IS as it believes that these people are responsible for curtailing its activities. Entertainment outlets were also on the target list for being 'unIslamic'," said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

"The nightclub was targeted by Islamic State because it was considered an "unIslamic" establishment," Khalid said.

He said the bombing, the first ever by IS on Malaysian soil, was only the first of a series of attacks planned by the group.

Meanwhile, opposition Islamist party PAS has urged Muslims not to involve themselves with extremists groups such as the IS militants which are against Islamic teaching and practices.

"Muslims should not involve themselves with the IS movement and all other extremists groups because they are against the teaching of Islam," PAS deputy president Ibrahim Tuan Man said.