Malaysia, US to share database of suspected terrorists

Malaysia and the US on Thursday signed an agreement to share their biometric databases of 1.2 million people accused of terrorism and other serious crimes.

The agreement comes days after the November 13 attack in Paris that left 129 people dead, EFE news reported.

The databases will be used at all ports of entry in both the countries.

"From the intelligence information gathered, some groups may be motivated by what happened in Paris and may try to repeat it here," said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was present at the signing ceremony.

Malaysian security agencies have arrested over a hundred people suspected of collaborating with the Islamic State since 2014 and official government figures say around 50 of its citizens are fighting in Syria while ten have died in combat.

Malaysia has nearly a 30 million population, of which 61 percent are Muslims.