The southern Philippine-based militants were captured in an operation in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, on the eve of National Day on Aug 30, reported The Star today.
Among the those arrested is one of Abu Sayaff leaders, Hajar Abdul Mubin, 26, who is also known as Abu Asrie.
He was arrested with another Filipino, Abraham Embung, 29, and six Malaysians of Filipino descent from Sabah.
According to a report in The Star, the six Malaysians, aged between 20 and 52, are believed to be from Sandakan and working in Kuala Lumpur.
The report quoted sources as saying that some of the six were working as security guards and were even members of the Civil Defence Corp, or Rela.
According to Philippines intelligence sources, Abu Asrie is believed to be a member of the Jolo-based Lucky 9 group, which is involved in kidnap for ransom activities and are responsible for numerous cross border kidnappings in the east coast of Sabah.
The group is believed to have links with the Abu Sayyaf group based in the jungles of Jolo, which is on the run following a full-scale war by Philippines security forces.
The Star cited sources saying that Abu Asrie slipped into Malaysia in 2015 after meeting with Malaysian Islamic State (Daesh) militants Dr Mahmud Ahmad, Mohd Najib Hussein and Muhammad Joraimee in Basilan.
Mahmud and several other Abu Sayyaf leaders, including Insalon Hapilon, who is said to be the leader of the Islamic State group in Southeast Asia, were in the forefront with the Maute group in the attack on Marawi city in Mindanao.