Malaysia is planning to buy a Korean-made, multi-role support ship to boost its defence systems and use on humanitarian missions, the state Bernama news agency reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the ship had been requested for national defence purposes by the air force, army and navy, Bernama said.

"It will (also) be very useful in enhancing our capability in humanitarian operations," Najib told Malaysian journalists in Busan, where he began a six-day South Korean visit last Thursday.

"It can also be turned into a mini-hospital equipped with an operation theatre," Najib said.

The ship was built by Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Co Ltd and will be commissioned for use by the Korean navy soon.

It is equipped with the latest radar system and anti-missile weapons. It has the capacity to carry 700 officers and staff, as well as helicopters, tanks, artillery, hovercraft and other vehicles, Bernama reported.

Najib, who is also defence minister, did not mention the cost of the planned purchase, but said it would be part of programmes under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a five-year development blueprint launched last year.

Malaysia has initiated a major arms build-up in stages over the past few years.

It recently signed a deal worth nearly one billion dollars to buy a batch of Russian Sukhoi 30-MKM military jets.