Malaysia's police have stated that there were unconfirmed reports of an 'imminent terrorist threat' in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit to be held over the weekend.
US President Barack Obama is set to arrive in Malaysia on Friday to meet with Prime Minister Najib Razak. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to reach Kuala Lumpur on Saturday for the ASEAN-India Summit.
On Thursday, local media in Malaysia reported that leaked police memos had revealed that as many as ten suicide bombers from the Islamic State group and the Abu Sayyaf group were present in Kuala Lumpur, while eight suicide bombers were in Sabah.
In light of the terror threat, Malaysia deployed nearly 2,000 army personnel in different parts of Kuala Lumpur, while 2,500 more have been kept on stand-by, armed forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin told Reuters.
"There have been reports of imminent terrorist threats in Malaysia. At this point, I would like to underline that they have yet to be confirmed," Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar had reportedly said on Thursday night.
Leaders from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, and South Korea will meet for the ASEAN summit.
Many countries have increased security alert for possible terror attacks after Isis struck Paris last Friday and killed 129 people.
