The arrests followed new leads in the nationwide manhunt for the molester responsible for the kidnap, rape and murder of the 8-year-old.

Both men were arrested at different locations on Saturday night and yesterday morning under Ops Sunti - the operation name for Nurin's case.

The first suspect, a 43-year-old, was picked up in Lorong Haji Taib here.

In Johor Baru, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan yesterday said a team from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman made the arrest.

The man works as a guard in the city.

The second suspect, aged 32, was arrested at an abandoned building at Lot 252-254 in Jalan Tun Razak at 10am.

City CID chief SAC II Ku Chin Wah said a team from the city police Serious Crimes Division (D9) arrested the second suspect.

He said the man, also a guard, was a drug addict.

"We are working on a new lead and their detention is necessary to help in our investigations," said Ku.

The building, next to the National Library, formerly housed two private colleges.

Calls made to a phone number listed on a notice posted at a guard post in the building were answered by a man claiming to be a supervisor of a security company.

The man confirmed that one of his employees had been picked up by police.

The second suspect bore a resemblance to a photofit of Nurin's kidnapper and was also the owner of a black Modenas Kriss motorcycle. The kidnapper had used such a motorcycle.

According to sources, police had seized the motorcycle from the man who is from Kampung Paya Jaras in Sungai Buloh, as well as his handphone, two SIM cards, two helmets and a jacket.

Yesterday, forensic experts examined the abandoned building for any clues linking it to the Nurin case.

Bernama reported that one of the rooms had been cleaned up by the guard and furnished with a cupboard, television and mattress. It has an attached bathroom.

At 1.30pm, the police team and the suspect left the scene.

At 3.40pm, four girls, who may have been victims of the man dubbed the "Kampung Baru molester", were brought to the abandoned building.

The "Kampung Baru molester" was linked to Nurin's abduction and murder.

A 6-year-old and a 7-year-old from Kampung Baru, another 6-year-old girl abducted near her home in Taman Medan and an 8-year-old girl, who was raped in May last year, were brought to the abandoned building.