A Philippines government investigator today urged Malaysia to improve conditions at detention centres for illegal migrants, especially for women and children.

Nur Jaafar called for the improvements after visiting a detention centre at Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state, where he said people awaiting deportation had complained of poor food and inadequate conditions.

"I want conditions for the children and women to be improved in accordance with international law," said Jaafar, head of a seven-man delegation investigating conditions at the Malaysian camps after allegations that migrants at them were being ill-treated.

He earlier visited camps in Tawau and Sandakan and said afterwards he was happy with conditions there, although there had been some complaints.

President Gloria Arroyo ordered the investigation of the camps after claims by Filipinos being deported in a Malaysian crackdown on illegal immigrants that they had been abused at holding centres for illegal immigrants on Borneo island.

Officials in the Philippines have alleged that at least three children have died during the recent deportation of some 12,000 Filipinos.