KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — Police have arrested six Malaysian youths, including three minors, suspected of involvement in Islamic State (IS)-linked extremist activities.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the suspects, aged between 16 and 21, were detained in coordinated raids conducted on February 14 and 15 in the Klang Valley, Johor, Kedah and Terengganu.
The arrests followed intelligence findings uncovered through online radicalisation activities, including the promotion of extremist ideology, recruitment efforts and discussions of potential attacks, he said.
“Suspects were found to have promoted IS propaganda on social media, pledged allegiance to the group and possessed materials linked to the terrorist organisation,” Mohd Khalid told a press conference at Bukit Aman police headquarters here today.
Mohd Khalid said as three of the suspects are below the age of 18, and authorities ensured their rights were protected under the Child Act 2001, while the arrests were conducted in accordance with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Police have also seized several items believed to be linked to extremist activities during the raids, including 11 mobile phones, two laptops, one external hard disk drive, four IS flags, a shirt bearing the group’s logo and three books containing extremist-related material.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects were active in online messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Discord, where they created and joined groups used to circulate extremist propaganda and discuss possible attacks.
According to Mohd Khalid, some of the discussions in these groups included plans to target police stations, government installations and places of worship in Malaysia.
Authorities also found that the suspects were heavily exposed to online content related to wars and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, which they frequently viewed on social media platforms.
Police said the youths were also influenced by online gaming platforms, particularly Roblox, where they spent long hours engaging with war-themed gameplay and interacting with other users.
“This kind of exposure, when combined with extremist propaganda and discussions within closed online groups, can gradually shape the thinking of young people towards radical beliefs,” Mohd Khalid said.
Following the arrests and investigations, he said the six suspects are expected to be charged in court next week under terrorism-related provisions of the Penal Code, including offences linked to promoting terrorist groups, possessing terrorist-related materials and declaring membership in a terrorist organisation.
Mohd Khalid added that investigations are ongoing and further arrests may follow as police continue to track other individuals believed to be connected to the network.
He also urged the public not to speculate about the arrests or spread unverified information, which could interfere with ongoing investigations.
Expanding further, he said investigations also uncovered that the suspects had formed several local messaging groups and were linked to larger online groups involving individuals from neighbouring countries, with some international chat groups believed to have around 1,000 participants.
He also warned that such online spaces can become breeding grounds for extremist indoctrination, where individuals are gradually influenced through repeated discussions about violence and terrorism.
Citing the 2024 Ulu Tiram attack, he said this was an example of radicalisation patterns.
“In the Ulu Tiram attack, we saw how radicalisation can begin with exposure to extremist narratives and discussions within certain groups before eventually leading to violent action.
“The indoctrination process usually starts with discussions in small groups where individuals repeatedly talk about extremist ideology and violence until one person becomes motivated to act on their own,” he said.
He stressed that the attack demonstrated how individuals could eventually become “lone wolf” actors after prolonged exposure to radical ideas.
“That is why early intervention is critical. If these discussions and influences are not stopped at an early stage, they can escalate into real attacks that threaten public safety and national security,” he said.
On parents’ role in preventing radicalisation, he called on parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s online activities and social interactions, warning that prolonged exposure to extremist or violent content on digital platforms could negatively influence youths.
“Parents and guardians play a critical role. They must actively monitor their children’s online activities, including social media, messaging apps and online games, as these platforms can expose youths to extremist ideas.
“Minimal monitoring by families or parents may leave children exposed to content related to terrorism, IS ideology and similar extremist narratives.
“Some social media videos also discuss countries described as un-Islamic or critical of religious systems, which could negatively influence the thinking of children and youths,” he said.
Despite global geopolitical tensions, he said Malaysia’s security situation remains stable and under control, with authorities continuing to strengthen intelligence monitoring and preventive measures to safeguard national security.
