Zahid said they were detained after surveillance conducted by the police Special Branch anti-terrorism division on a group of individuals.
“We monitored the movements of several individuals involved in disseminating, influencing and financing suspected IS activities, and they included the two Turks.
“The counter messaging centre operations, which have been going on for a long time, discovered their communications,” he said when met by reporters after he closed the International Wasatiyyah Seminar at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.
Zahid said the two Turks were being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma). They would be brought before a panel to determine whether to continue the investigations under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota) or the Prevention of Crimes Act 2013 (Poca).
The two Turks were named as Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan. Both live in the country and were arrested separately on May 2.
Initially, their families feared the two had been kidnapped and lodged police reports about their disappearance. However, IGP Khalid Abu Bakar subsequently tweeted that they were arrested for activities threatening the security of Malaysia.
Their wives have denied that the two men were involved in terrorist activities.
Ihsan has lived here for 15 years and runs a business selling headscarves while Turgay is the principal of Time International School in Ipoh, Perak.
Zahid said he understood the anxiety of the two families, adding that he would ensure the detainees would be treated humanely.
“If they are truly not involved or their involvement is minimal, then we promise the families that they would be released.
“However, we must respect the information obtained by the police. If there is strong evidence for the arrests, then we will take action according to the law.”
He said the authorities would cooperate with the intelligence agencies of Turkey but it was premature to discuss the question of extradition of the two Turks to their homeland.