KUALA LUMPUR (The Star/Asia News Network) - Four men suspected to be Islamic State militants have been detained in Perak and Sabah, Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday (June 16).

The suspects - three Indonesians and a Malaysian - were arrested by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division on Monday and Thursday, the Inspector-General of Police told reporters.

"On Monday we arrested an Indonesian man on Slim River, Perak. This was followed by the arrests of three others in Sandakan on Thursday. We believe the trio were trying to gain safe passage to Marawi city in southern Philippines," Khalid told a press conference after witnessing the handing over of the Bukit Aman traffic department's director's post on Friday.

He added that the police are still looking for other suspects connected to the ISIS.

"We will intensify our operations against terror elements," he said.