KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 ― More than 50 Malaysians with the IS militant group in Syria and Iraq wish to return to Malaysia but fear death at the hands of fellow militants, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

"They have pledged to serve IS and face death at the hands of fellow militants if they leave the group.

"If they want to return to Malaysia, they must find their own way out. They are trapped. If there is a way, we will help because they are citizens of this country,” he said.

Khalid spoke to reporters after delivering a talk on "National Security” to about 700 students and staff of the International Islamic University of Malaysia in Gombak today.

He said some of the Malaysians had torn up and burned their passports when they joined IS.

Khalid also said that those who return to Malaysia after leaving IS in Syria and Iraq would not be exempted from penalty under Malaysian law.

He said about 60 Malaysians were believed to have joined IS in Syria. 

"Fourteen of them were suicide bombers who reportedly died in Syria,” he said.

He also said that 260 IS members had been arrested and were serving out their sentence.

IIUM president and socio-cultural adviser to the government Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim and IIUM rector Prof Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Kamarudin also attended the talk.  — Bernama