KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Malaysia has arrested 137 people to date over connections to the Islamic State terrorist group, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said these included those planning to join the IS and those returning from Syria as well as people who were financing such activities.

"The Home Ministry has been working together with the police especially the counter terrorism unit," he told reporters during a press conference in Parliament today.

The home minister explained that Malaysia has an "information sharing programme" with international intelligence agencies to build a suspect list to keep track of those linked with IS, especially Malaysians.

"We can assure Malaysians that the enforcement agencies are prepared not only at airports or borders but even to the rabbit holes," Ahmad Zahid added.

He also explained that Malaysia is considering adopting measures from Saudi Arabia's  deradicalisation programme in which monitoring devices are attached to offenders.

"We will be speaking to the AG (Attorney-General) about this," Ahmad Zahid said.