At least 60 Burmese immigrants rioted in the Lenggeng detention centre in Negri Sembilan today, torching a building after failing to win asylum to a third country.

lenggeng detention camp myanmar burmese detainees incarcerated 220408 The group initially gathered outside their block at the detention and tried to bring down the perimeter fence, local state police chief Osman Abdullah was quoted as saying by the daily Star newspaper website.

"The authorities tried talking to them but a short while later, they turned violent and then gained entry into the office and set it ablaze," he added.

Osman said about 200 police and security personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.

The Lenggeng detention facility houses 820 illegal immigrants, of which 218 are from Burma, he said.

"We are still investigating the cause, but at this point in time all I can say is that they were unhappy because they heard that their application to a third country had been rejected," Osman added.

Officials at the detention centre could not be reached for comment.