Sabah police have launched a crackdown on suspected Jemaah Islamiah members seeking refuge in the east Malaysian state on Borneo island.

They arrested two JI members in Sandakan on Thursday, the New Straits Times reported today.

According to sources, the two arrested under the Internal Security Act were a Malaysian and an Indonesian with permanent residence status. Both were picked up from their homes.

On lookout

The paper, however, did not name the sources.

But Deputy Inspector-General of Police Jamil Johari told the paper that the police were on the lookout for any member of the JI.

"We are always monitoring the situation and these (arrests) are due to on-going action taken by police," he said.