Recent terror attacks linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) - including the grenade blast at a bar near Kuala Lumpur last week - come as no surprise, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said yesterday.

Malaysian police confirmed yesterday that the grenade blast at the Movida nightspot in Puchong, which injured eight people, was the first successful ISIS attack on Malaysian soil.

Speaking during a visit to Geylang Serai's Hari Raya Bazaar, Mr Shanmugam noted that radicalism is growing in the region. "We know that more than a thousand people have gone from this region to fight in the Middle East and some of them are capable of planning attacks through proxies in the region," he said.

The minister noted that the recent atrocities, including those in Istanbul and Dhaka, took place during the fasting month of Ramadan.

"That they should choose to attack even during this month shows the level of evilness," he added. "What we can do is to prepare ourselves, which we have been doing."

Yesterday, Mr Shanmugam also commended the police national servicemen who have been involved in police operations at the bazaar. These include planning the deployment of servicemen and patrolling the area.

Every year, large crowds visit the bazaar, held during Ramadan.

It has been running for a month and ends today.

"They take great pride, they take ownership and they are doing a very good job," he said.