KUALA LUMPUR: The recent arrests of eight suspected Islamic State (IS) militants are based on actionable intelligence gathered by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division (E8), says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Home Minister said the arrests of the suspects under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) were because they posed a threat to safety and public order.
"Evidence gathered in the arrests was based on actionable intelligence and the investigation process.
"Their investigation showed they were spreading IS ideology that could threaten the country," he told a press conference after attending the Retired Senior Police Officers Association of Malaysia (Respa) annual general meeting closing ceremony on Tuesday (June 25).
Saifuddin Nasution said that the IS is dangerous given its extremist ideology.
He said the police managed to thwart the plans of the suspected IS militants, who were targetting VVIPs and senior police officers.
"We urge the public to disclose any relevant information so extremism and radicalism can be curbed effectively," he said.
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