The government is monitoring students sent overseas to make sure they are not following the teachings of an outlawed Islamic sect.

The Higher Education Ministry's parliamentary secretary, Adham Baba, said Malaysian students were being monitored in countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, Britain and the United States after claims some were influenced by the sect.

"We are still monitoring the situation and will know what is really happening overseas soon enough," Adham was quoted as telling the Senate by the Bernama news agency.

"We have approached such students, monitored them and explained things to them so that they understand and become responsible citizens upon their return to Malaysia," he added.

Crackdown on Rufaqa

Islamic officials in Malaysia in recent weeks have launched a crackdown against a company called Rufaqa, which is allegedly spreading the teachings of an Islamic sect called Al-Arqam, banned in 1994.

Adham said the ministry would dispatch Islamic teachers, or ustaz, overseas to talk to the Malaysian Muslim students and keep them from straying from orthodox practice.

"From time to time, we send a team consisting of ustaz to provide talks to Muslim students on the safeguarding of their faith," he said.

"The students will be made to understand their responsibilities and roles as students and, as such, will not be involved in activities that are not beneficial."

Religion is a sensitive issue in Malaysia, which is always on the lookout for Islamic sects which deviate from traditional teachings and are considered subversive.