KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A 39-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on Wednesday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport before he could head to Syria to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), said Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

Tan Sri Khalid said the man had intended to fly to Turkey after transiting in Brunei.

"The suspect was detained at about 5.30am this morning.

"He had planned to fly to Brunei and then to Turkey before booking a passage to Syria," he told a press conference on on Wednesday.

Mr Khalid said the man is believed to have planned to join the ISIS terror group.

"We will not tolerate anyone who support or join any terrorist group. The full extent of the law will be imposed on any Malaysian who do so," he warned.