KUALA LUMPUR: Seven more suspected militants planning attacks in Malaysia, including at places of worship have been arrested in separate operations in Johor and Sabah.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in the first operation on Feb 27 conducted by the Counter Terrorism Police department, three suspects between 30 and 49 were arrested in Johor Baru.
He said checks showed the three were planning to attack non-muslim prayer house and temples in the state.
"A 37 year old engineer at a private company, who was among the 3 arrested turned out to be the mastermind responsible for planning the attacks as well as for recruting new IS members.
“Another suspect, a 49-year old who worked as a security guard was responsible to ensure that the recruits kept the secrecy of the group.
"He did this by threatening to kill anyone who leaked the information, " he said.
Fuzi said the third suspect was responsible for securing firearms and weapons by smuggling them from a neighbouring country.
He said the third suspect had also gone to some of the non Muslim houses of worship in Johor to survey the locations and lay the ground work for the attacks.
“The suspects had planned to flee to a neighbouring country after launching the attacks,” he said in a statement.
Fuzi said police had conducted a follow up operation and arrested another three members of the same cell between Feb 28 and March 1.
The fourth suspect picked up in a follow up operation was a 25 year old cafe waiter who received orders to kidnap and murder policemen who came in their way.
“The orders were from the first and third suspects," he said.
Fuzi said two more suspects - aged 22 and 23 who worked as cleaners in Singapore - were also arrested for allegedly playing middlemen roles in the arms deal.
Meanwhile in an unrelated case in Sabah, Fuzi said 31-year-old right hand man of Furuji Indama (the head of the Abu Sayyaf militant group in Basilan, Southern Philippines) was arrested in a counter terrorism operation on Mar 15.
"The suspect had a very good and close relationship with Dr Mahmud Ahmad (A Malaysian militant who joined IS in the Phillipines).
“He was also on the Phillipines government's wanted list for several kidnapping for ransom cases and attempted murders,” he said, adding the militant was an expert in making improvised explosive devices (IED).
Fuzi said all those detained were being investigated for having links with terrorist groups and had been held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and Section 574 of the Penal Code.