PETALING JAYA, Dec 18 — The federal police’s Counter Terrorism Unit has arrested a Malaysian, aged 39, believed to be on his way to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria.

The arrest of the self-employed man at the KL International Airport early yesterday brought the total number of arrests involving IS supporters who have tried to join or assist the militant group since February last year to 46.

The suspect was about to board a flight to Brunei when personnel from the Counter Terrorism Unit detained him.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspect had planned to fly to Brunei and then to Turkey before going to Syria.

“Initial investigations suggest he was planning to join the Islamic State,” he told reporters after launching the 59th anniversary celebrations of the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) in Cheras yesterday.

Khalid said police had not established who was involved in recruiting the suspect and if there were other individuals responsible for his travel arrangements as they had yet to interrogate him.

“We will need some time to get those information. He was alone when the police team moved in and arrested him,” he said.

The suspect is being detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

Khalid said police were now focusing their investigations on connections that IS supporters here had with terrorist groups in the southern Philippines.

“The recruiters of IS militants here in many cases that we have investigated showed links to terrorist groups in the southern Philippines. We are working on finding that out,” he said.

Khalid said police were constantly on the lookout for individuals or groups involved with foreign militants.

“I warn any quarters seeking to use Malaysia as a transit point such as to join the IS militant group in Syria, smuggling drugs, human trafficking and anything that threatens the national peace, that they will be dealt with severely,” he said.

He was referring to the case where seven Indonesians, including four women, were detained on Dec 2 when they entered the country from Indonesia as transit passengers en route to Syria.

Since February last year, police have charged 21 people with channeling funds and travelling to Syria to support and aid the IS.

During the same period, 40 people were detained but some were released because of lack of evidence.

There are also suspects still under investigation or released on bail.