Malaysian police are holding a Singaporean under a tough security law on suspicion of channelling funds to an Islamic militant group in the southern Philippines, officials said today.

“Abdul Majid Kunji Mohamad is suspected of funnelling funds and providing logistic (aid) to a militant organisation in southern Philippines,” inspector-general of police Ismail Omar said in a statement.

“Abdul Majid was detained because his involvement will endanger Malaysia’s security.”

Ismail said Abdul Majid, a businessman who lives in Kuala Lumpur, was arrested last Friday in the capital and is being held under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

Malaysia is assisting the Philippines to broker peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in an effort to end a bloody secessionist war in the restive but mineral-rich region of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines.

A long-running rebellion in the region has left more than 150,000 people dead.

- AFP