Malaysia holds 3 accused of reviving terror group

Police arrested the suspects in southern Johor state on June 25 under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, said national police chief Musa Hassan.

The men were believed to be involved with the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah and were part of activities that "endanger the security of the nation," Musa told The Associated Press.

He declined to elaborate, saying police were still investigating the matter.

The Star newspaper, quoting unidentified officials familiar with the investigation, said the three Malaysians were believed to have met with Mas Selamat Kastari, Jemaah Islamiyah's alleged former Singapore commander, who also arrested in Johor on April 1.

Mas Selamat, a Singaporean citizen of Indonesian origin, is alleged to have plotted to hijack a plane and fly it into Singapore's international airport. He was caught by the Indonesian police in 2006 and handed over to Singapore, where escaped from a high-security prison in February 2008 by wriggling out a bathroom window. Malaysian authorities recaptured him more than a year later.

The three detained were believed to be ordinary members of Jemaah Islamiyah who were attempting to revive the group's operations in Malaysia, the report said.

Malaysia has arrested dozens of Jemaah Islamiyah members over the past eight years. Authorities were investigating if the three men have recruited any new members recently, The Star's report added.

Malaysia's government has said it will continue to hold Mas Selamat under the Internal Security Act to obtain more information about his activities.

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