Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the six – five Malaysians and an Indonesian – were detained on Jan 6 and 7 last year.

He said police also seized two Daesh (Islamic State) flags, a machete and a knife during the operation carried out by the Bukit Aman Special Branch.

“All those detained are members of Anshorullah At-Tauhid, a Daesh cell set up in October 2019 aimed at promoting the Salafi Jihadi ideology by recruiting new members and launching attacks in Malaysia.

“PDRM’s investigation found that three of the arrested individuals had issued death threats (against) former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and several of his Cabinet ministers,” he said in a statement today.

He said they also planned to launch attacks on gambling centres in Genting Highlands, Pahang, as well as liquor factories around the Klang Valley.

Hamid said the six were being investigated under Section 130JB (1) (a) of the Penal Code for possession, custody or control of materials related to a terrorist group.