PUTRAJAYA, July 6 — The threat of the Islamic State (IS) terror group to Malaysia was unprecedented in the country’s history, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

Compared to other terrorist organisation such as al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah (JI), the Umno vice president said IS was significantly more dangerous due to its methods as well as its use of the Internet for recruitment.

"We are used to al-Qaeda, we are used to Jemaah Islamiah, Noordin Mat Top, Mas Selamat. We are used to all that, but the Daesh (IS) threat is different from the threats we have had to face before,” Hishammuddin told reporters when met at the prime minister’s Hari Raya open house today.

The Semberong MP added that since the IS depended on social media and has a global network, it was key to work with authorities from other countries to eradicate any danger.

He added that Malaysia is cooperating with Belgium, France, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka on the matter.

On the IS grenade attack on a bar in Puchong, the first on Malaysian soil, he expressed concern but said information to the public must be restricted to prevent the IS from learning about what the authorities have discovered.

Hishammuddin also ruled out the possibility that the bombing at Movida Bar and Lounge was in response to a challenge issued by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to the IS group.

Two days ago, Khalid confirmed the a grenade attack on  the Movida bar in Puchong to be the first successful IS attack in Malaysia. He also announced the arrest of the 15 people for militant activities.