Malaysian armed forces have been placed on alert along the coast of Sabah in response to an expected surge in Filipino illegal immigrants, marine police said today.

"We have increased patrols in coastal waters especially around illegal entry points," a spokesman for the state marine police told AFP .

He said the armed forces had been directed to heighten surveillance of high-risk areas along the coast following a recent influx in illegal Filipino immigrants.

Defense Minister Najib Razak said the number of migrants entering the state from the southern Philippines had increased last month, following intensified operations by the Philippine armed forces against Abu Sayyaf rebel leaders on the southern Jolo island.

"We are watching the situation closely, but none of the refugees detained has any links to the Abu Sayyaf based on our intelligence reports," Najib was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

He added that some 150 Filipino illegal immigrants had been detained in the state over the past two weeks.

No extra soldiers

Najib said there was no need to deploy extra soldiers in the state, although the navy and air force had been instructed to increase patrols in the sea.

Manila launched a major offensive last week against the Abu Sayyaf group, which claims to be fighting for an independent Muslim state but is best known for kidnapping people for ransom.

Up to a thousand US troops are in the southern Philippines providing technical support to local soldiers in the hunt for Abu Sayyaf members. -AFP