KUALA LUMPUR: Police today confirmed that they had uncovered and foiled plans by Islamic State-linked militants to kidnap the Prime Minister, as well as the Home and and Defence ministers last year.

Inspector-General of police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar confirmed the existence of a plot last year to kidnap the country’s top leaders.

“It is our responsibility to prevent any untoward incidences from happening and to avoid any criminal elements,” he told a press conference after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Unikop College and Open University Malaysia (OUM) here today.

Khalid however declined to elaborate further on the arrest. Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Dewan Rakyat revealed that there was an attempt by IS militant groups to kidnap him, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein.

The militant group has also targeted several other ministers, said Zahid.

On a separate note, Khalid said police have arrested more than 150 individuals linked to the IS militant groups He said 45 Malaysians are still in Syria and a total of 18 Malaysians were killed as suicide bombers in Syria.-nst