Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said police were aware of the group’s movements, adding that they had successfully dealt with such groups in the past.

“We have not heard of such groups in a while. We have our ways of dealing with this, as we have done previously,” he said after witnessing the handing over of duties from outgoing Sabah police chief Hazani Ghazali to Idris Abdullah here today.

“The police will ensure it doesn’t get to the point where it will cause public concern.”

An online portal had reported that the PMYT group, led by a woman identified as Sittah Annur, had some 3,000 followers and also 22 Telegram groups, with its members growing by the day.

It also claimed the followers included professionals and uniformed officers such as policemen and army personnel.

According to the portal, a security source claimed that Sittah, 39, had told the followers that World War III would break out in Sabah and that she would lead the group into battle against the enemy.

It also reported that Sittah is believed to be from Kelantan but residing in Shah Alam, Selangor. She had been using various social media platforms to share bizarre claims, believed to be against the teachings of Islam.

Acryl Sani said he would need to check the claim that uniformed personnel were involved in the group.

“If it is true, we will identify those involved. We can’t, however, rush the investigation as we need to collect as much information as we can, particularly on what they are teaching.

“We also need to seek the Islamic development department’s (Jakim) view,” he said, adding the group appeared to be more centred in the peninsula rather than in Sabah.

Hazani, who will assume the post of internal security and public order department director in Bukit Aman, said the group’s so-called members were actually only social media followers.

He also said one police report had been lodged by an ustaz in the peninsula.