KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — For the first time in history, the police has collaborated with an independent body, the Sunni Organisation Malaysia (Aswaja), to train 50 speakers to explain to the public on the dangers of Islamic State (IS) militants’ activities.

These speakers, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today said, would then return to their respective locations in the country and explain to their community of this terrorist group.

“It is the first time that the police is collaborating with an NGO to train participants for this purpose.

“But it is not the first we are working with groups as such to combat terrorism as the police are always prepared and willing to work with anyone for this purpose,” he told reporters after closing the training programme here.

Khalid said the IS threats in Syria and Iraq are worrying, noting that the three-day training programme was timely and necessary to inform the public on ways this radical group uses to recruit militants.

“We hope these people would educate and inform our people on the dangers and ways this group uses to get people to join them,” he said.

Aswaja president Zamihan Mat Zin said the 50 participants comprised of civil servants, academicians, lecturers and NGO representatives.

“We hope to train at least 1,000 speakers by end of the year,” he said.

On January 14, the IS group claimed responsibility over attacks in Jakarta, which killed seven people and injured 24 others.

The police subsequently arrested a 28-year-old man at the Jelatek train station for plotting an attack in the city here.

As of today, the police have since detained and apprehended 157 suspects under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act.