|
 Police said the video, featuring operatives from the militant
group Katibah Nusantara speaking under the IS logo, was significant
because it was the first from Islamic State in Malay.
"This threat is very real and my government takes it very
seriously," Najib told a conference on extremism. "This is a
challenge that faces us all around the world. We are far from immune
to this danger in Malaysia."
Police said on Sunday they had arrested seven members of an IS cell
who were planning attacks across the country. The suspected
militants were carrying bullets, books on jihad, IS flags and
propaganda videos.
Ten days ago, Malaysia arrested a suspected militant believed to
have been planning a suicide attack in Kuala Lumpur.
 Three Malaysians who were trying to enter Syria to join IS were
arrested this month, Najib said.
The video that surfaced online warned Malaysia against the crackdown
on IS supporters and featured two Malaysians based in Syria, said
Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, director of the police counter-terrorism
unit.
"They threatened to carry out an attack if police did not stop the
arrests and release detainees immediately," said Ayob, adding that
the video showed militants in the country were becoming more
organized.
"Perhaps they didn't have a direct link with IS before, but now they
do, so they can use the IS logo on their videos."
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Katibah Nusantara, the militant network that released the video, is
believed to be led by Bahrun Naim, who was identified as the
mastermind behind the Jakarta bombings earlier this month.
Indonesian police have said Naim is pulling strings from Raqqa,
Islamic State's de facto capital in Syria.
Reuters could not independently verify the video.
"If you catch us, we will only increase in number but if you let us
be, we will be closer to our goal of bringing back the rule of the
Khalifah (caliph)," said a message on the video, according to
Malaysian newspaper the Star. (http://bit.ly/23mzq4H)
Security experts in the region believe Islamic State's footprint is
still light in Southeast Asia because militants are jostling to be
its regional leader.
(Writing by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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