Turks arrested in Malaysia 'for funding IS'

Two Turkish nationals arrested in Malaysia are being held on suspicion of funding the Islamic State group, Kuala Lumpur said yesterday, after a rights organisation raised concerns of pressure from Ankara for the detentions.

Malaysia's anti-terrorism police unit had been investigating the two men, along with a number of others, for "spreading, influencing and funding" IS activities, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Officers had a raft of communications between Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan, Zahid told reporters.

News of the arrests broke Wednesday, when national police chief tweeted that the men were being held "because they threatened the security of Malaysia."