Malaysian man controlling actions of IS sympathizers from his base in Syria, says police

A 26-year-old Malaysian man could be the person controlling the actions of several Islamic State sympathisers in the Muslim-majority country from his base in Syria, a top police official said.

Three of the nine suspected Islamic State militants detained this month, including two allegedly involved in the nightclub bombing in a suburb here last month, had taken orders from Muhammad Wanndy Bin Mohamed Jedi, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said.

Jedi had also ordered another attack on an entertainment outlet in Johor. One received orders to attack police headquarters here and government complexes in Putrajaya, he said.

They were detained along with six others, including three Iraqi militants and a 17-year-old in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sabah and Kelantan between July 20 and August 9 by the Counter Terrorism Division. The three Iraqis are former soldiers who have been in Malaysia for a few months while the six Malaysians are three VCD sellers, a factory operator, an excavator driver and an unemployed man, Khalid said.

The Iraqis were using Malaysia as a transit point.

The three had tried to obtain forged travel documents to launch an attack on a Middle Eastern country," Khalid said.

Two suspects in Batu Pahat and Kuala Krai were detained for harbouring Jasanizam Rosni and Md Saifuddin Muj, he added.