Some 1,441 Malaysians are being held in foreign jails for various offences in 59 countries as of yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Chee Leong said.

"Of the number, 733 are held for drug offences, 243 for false documents and credit cards, 72 for immigration offences, 40 for human trafficking, 93 for commercial crime, 74 for theft, 17 for murder, 47 for fraud and 122 for other offences.

"Another 98 Malaysians held overseas are waiting for their cases to be tried," he said in reply to a supplementary question by senator Saripah Aminah Syed Mohamed in Dewan Negara today.

Lee said the government had sent consulars to visit them at detention centres to ensure good treatment and requested local authorities to speed up their trial.

Malaysians travelling overseas were also reminded to behave properly and be cautious at all times to avoid falling prey to fraud syndicates.

- Bernama