Terror group Islamic State (ISIS) is trying to increase its reach in South-east Asia by launching a Malay-language publication for its supporters in the region, according to a Berita Harian (BH) report.

Berita Harian reported on Monday (July 11) that the publication called Al Fatihin was launched in southern Philippines on June 20, and is being distributed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, southern Thailand, as well as southern Philippines itself.

An unnamed security expert was quoted saying that the act can be seen as an “unofficial warning” that the Malay archipelago is in the militant group’s sights.

… Regional security expert Bilveer Singh, an adjunct senior fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security at RSIS, recently warned of a possible increase in ISIS activities in the region as the terrorist organisation has begun losing its hold on territories in Iraq and Syria.