Malaysia cops nab 9 suspected IS militants

In a four-state swoop, Malaysian police have detained nine suspected Islamic State (IS) militants, including two allegedly involved in a shooting at a nightclub here recently.

The Counter Terrorism Division arrested the suspects in Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sabah and Kelantan between July 20 and August 9.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said in a press release that three of the suspects arrested - aged between 17 and 56 - were foreigners.

He said the three were using Malaysia as a transit point while they obtained forged travel documents to launch an attack on a country in the Middle East.

Khalid said the 17-year-old suspect detained in Sabah had received orders from an IS militant in Syria to launch a lone wolf attack by killing non-Muslims in Sandakan.

Khalid identified the two night club bombing suspects as Jasanizam Rosni and Md Saifuddin Muj who werenabbed in a hilly area in Kuala Krai, in Kelantan state on Tuesday.

"They were also waiting for further orders to launch an attack on an entertainment outlet in Johor Baru," said Khalid.

He added that a M67 grenade was seized, saying that the two had planned to use it in the attack.

Two other suspects detained in Batu Pahat and Kuala Krai were detained for harbouring the duo, said Khalid.

On the last suspect arrested, Khalid said the 26-year-old man nabbed in Johor was involved in a plan to attack the police headquarters government complexes in Putrajaya.