THREE suspected Islamic State (IS) militants were nabbed in separate operations in Selangor, Kedah and Sabah in the past two weeks, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said.

One of the suspects, a 42-year-old Malaysian contractor, was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport just as he was about to board a flight to Egypt to join the IS cell in Sinai before making his way to Syria.

Hamid said the suspect had pledged allegiance to IS since last year.

“He took the oath twice last year via Facebook, is a staunch believer in salafi jihadism and has rejected the parliamentary democracy system,” the IGP said.

“He also refused to recognise the Malaysian government and any religious organisations.”

The Malaysian was the first among the three who were arrested by the Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division (E8) between May 17 and May 30.

On Sunday, police nabbed a 20-year-old Indonesian in Keningau, Sabah who is believed to have been a facilitator for Indonesian IS militants.

He had transited in Sabah before heading to southern Philippines to launch suicide attacks.

“He worked as a labourer and had performed the bai’ah to Abu Bakar Al-Baghdadi (IS leader).

“Besides that, he channelled funds to the Maute terror group and also had plans to travel to Syria,” said Hamid.

The last arrest was made earlier today in Kuala Kedah involving a 28-year-old Bangladeshi.

Hamid said the man was a bomb-maker who specialised in improvised explosive devices (IED), adding he used to work as a mechanic on a ship.

Police are now looking for another Indonesian suspect, identified as Marwan, who escaped during the raid in Keningau on May 26.

The suspect is in his 30s and his last known address is at Kg Keritan Laut in Keningau.

Anyone with information on the suspect can contact E8 investigating officer Insp Mohd Razizuan Mohd Razali at 017-3278435 or the nearest police station. – May 30, 2019.