KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — The police have nabbed three Malaysians believed to be involved in terrorist group Islamic State’s (IS) activities, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

According to the national police chief, the trio includes a civil servant, who is believed to be a senior member of the Syria-based militant movement.

“The third suspect, a man aged 39 is a staff member of a government department,” Khalid said in a statement.

“The suspect who originates from Perak, is suspected of being involved in helping to register Facebook accounts for the use of a few Malaysians and is a senior member of the terrorist group Islamic State in Syria,”” he added.

Khalid said it is believed the civil servant had plans to go to Syria to join IS.

Another suspect from Perak, a businessman aged 22, is suspected of contributing funds to Malaysians who wished to join the militant group in Syria, he said.

Khalid said a 29-year-old housewife from Johor was nabbed on suspicion that she was planning to join the IS group.

He added that she was also believed “responsible for inciting a local woman” to join the group.

All three will be investigated for allegedly committing offences under the Penal Code’s Chapter VI A, which governs “Offences relating to Terrorism”. They will be probed using procedures under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

According to Khalid, the operations by the police’s counter terrorism division’s special branch that resulted in the trio’s arrest was carried out in the three areas of Johor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur between February 28 and March 2.

On February 6, Khalid told reporters that the police had arrested 74 Malaysians over suspected links to militant groups.