Malaysia and the Philippines agreed today to set up a "hot line" between security officials as part of efforts to fight terrorism and cross-border crime, a senior official said.

"We have agreed to establish a 'hot line' between security officials to boost the effectiveness of our operations against terrorists and criminals," First Admiral Noor Aziz Yunan, director of the Malaysian maritime enforcement coordinating center, told AFP .

Malaysian and Philippines officials began a four-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to enhance security cooperation.

Noor Aziz said the "hot line" would allow security officials to respond quickly by giving them "a point of reference to whom we should contact."

Due to the porous nature of the border, arms trafficking, piracy and the entry of illegal Filipinos into Malaysia has been rife.

Consulate officer in place

The focus of concern is the border of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah and the troubled southern Philippines.

Sabah is located a short boat ride from the Philippine province of Mindanao where government forces are battling Muslim separatists.

Noor Aziz said to fight illegal migrants into Sabah from Mindanao, Manila had agreed to establish an office to provide them with travel documents in Zamboanga city.

Thousands of Filipinos enter Sabah illegally in search of work.

Noor Aziz also said tourists should set aside their security concerns and visit Sabah's marine paradise since dozens of naval boats and hundreds of security personnel have been deployed to ensure maximum security.

"It is safe to come with the current security plan in place. We have contained the threat of the Abu Sayyaf group," he said in a reference to the Filipino Muslim rebel kidnap-for-ransom gang. AFP