Thai authorities are still in the midst of gathering more information on a Thai national sought by the Malaysian police over his alleged involvement with the Islamic State terror group. 

The Malaysian authorities have identified the suspect as Awae Wae-eya, 37, from Cho Airong in Narathiwat.

Yesterday, inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in a statement that Awae and three other Malaysians, also linked to the terrorist group, were “presumed dangerous”.

Thai National Security Council secretary-general Wanlop Raksanor said Thai authorities had yet to be informed by their Malaysian counterparts on Awae and only knew about him via media reports.

“We will check whether the man carries dual Thai-Malaysian citizenship or travelled regularly to the Middle East," he told Bernama when met before attending the weekly cabinet meeting at the Government House in Bangkok today.

Wanlop was commenting on Fuzi’s statement on Malaysian police efforts to track down the Thai and the Malaysians.

The fugitive Malaysians are Nor Farkhan Mohd Isa, 31, from Skudai, Johor; and Muhamad Hanafi Yah, 51, and Muhamad Faizal Muhamad Hanafi, 29, from Kampung Ketil, Pengkalan Kubor.

According to Malaysian police intelligence, the four suspects are allegedly planning attacks on non-Muslim places of worship, as well as to abduct and murder policemen.

Fuzi said six members of the four wanted men’s terror cell had been arrested by the police Special Branch in Johor between Feb 27 and March 1.

Despite the prolonged conflict in southern Thailand which had claimed 7,000 lives since 2004, Bangkok has repeatedly stated that the country was free from any IS-related threats, with no arrest associated with the terrorist group.

- Bernama