Malaysia to tighten security for upcoming Asean Summit following Paris attacks

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia today said it will tighten security for the upcoming Asean Summit here this week to be attended by several world leaders following the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris that left over 120 people dead.

"We are not only in a state of preparedness but are increasing our strength in terms of manpower," Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

The Asean Summit, which will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from November 18-22, will also see the attendance of leaders from the regional body's dialogue partner countries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Modi's Malaysia visit includes a bilateral visit besides attending the tenth East Asia-India Summit which follows the Asean Summit.

Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, told reporters that the number of security personnel is being increased to ensure safety. He assured Malaysians that authorities were closely monitoring intelligence channels to ensure that the country remained safe.

Several Malaysians have been detained in the past who were found to be Islamic State sympathisers.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political and economic organisation of ten Southeast Asian countries that include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.