Malaysia beefs up security in Kuala Lumpur for Asean summit in view of Isis terror attack threat

Malaysia has beefed up security in the capital Kuala Lumpur after an unconfirmed police report of an imminent terrorist threat was leaked ahead of the 27th Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) summit scheduled for this weekend. The report warns about the presence of 10 suicide bombers in Kuala Lumpur and eight suicide bombers in Sabah state on Borneo.

"There have been reports of imminent terrorist threats in Malaysia. At this point, I would like to underline that they have yet to be confirmed," Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement quoted by The Straits Times.

The Asean summit, taking place in the wake of terror attacks in Paris, Egypt and Beirut, will be attended by 18 world leaders, including US President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The Malaysian military has deployed at least 2,000 of its personnel at strategic locations around the capital city with another 2,500 placed on standby.

"The Royal Malaysian Police have intensified the existing comprehensive security arrangement for the Asean and related summits in Kuala Lumpur," Khalid said. "Security checks at all entry and exit pointed to Malaysia have been stepped up."

Malaysiakini, local online news daily, disclosed the police report, where it is mentioned that Islamic State (Isis) and the Philippines insurgent groups, Abu Sayyaf and the Moro National Liberation Front, held a meeting in southern Philippines which was attended by 14 leaders from the three organisations and 50 members of Abu Sayyaf.

"These suicide bombers underwent military training in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as prepared to receive orders from their leaders to launch attacks/bombings," the online daily quoted the police report as saying.

"It is information that we received but we don't have clearer information ... It may be true or false, but action is still taken. We will pass on this information to our ground units for any action," Federal Police Special Branch Director Fuzi Harun told Malaysia's state-news agency Bernama.