The 13-year-old girl, who alleged that she was raped while in a detention centre in Sabah, must be brought back to Malaysia from the Philippines, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

"She can help the police in their investigations. They (the investigations) must continue, (we) cannot just leave it like that. Otherwise, other assumptions will be made," he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu. Abdullah was in Sabah to attend the State Barisan Nasional convention.

According to the Bernama news agency, Abdullah said Malaysia had proven to the Philippines that the girl is a Malaysian and that she must be brought back to Malaysia.

Abdullah, who is also Home Minister, was asked to comment on a press report that Manila is prepared to release the girl if Kuala Lumpur has strong evidence to show that she is a Malaysian citizen.