Malaysian scientists today said they had discovered ecological treasures on remote islands in the piracy-prone Malacca Straits, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and a focus of terrorism fears.

They have urged the government to protect the rich ecosystems found on three uninhabited islands that have remained untouched for the last 50 years, warning that they could be threatened by heightened security in the vital waterway.

The findings were made by a group of 32 researchers from the University of Malaya, who last week undertook a seven-day scientific expedition to explore the three islands located in the northern part of the straits, expedition leader Phang Siew Moi told AFP .

"Many people insist that the Malacca Straits are heavily polluted, but we have proven that there are still hidden jewels which must be protected.

"Due to the isolated location of the islands in the cleaner parts of the straits, they are in pristine condition, with rich ecosystems," she said.

One of the islands, Pulau Perak, which British scientists described as a "barren outcrop devoid of any vegetation" after a scientific expedition 50 years ago, has matured into a rich ecosystem with birds, beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, lizards, land crabs and vegetation, Phang said.

"When we arrived we expected barren rock but instead we saw a beautiful island covered with trees and shrubs.

"We also found nesting sites for rare species of birds known as the Brown Booby and the Brown Noddy", along with 10 new species of micro-organisms which may have biotechnology potential for use in pharmaceutical products, Phang said.

Heightened security

The scientists also discovered the first coral-encrusted wall reef in peninsular Malaysia off Pulau Perak, similar to those found off diving haven Sipadan in Borneo, said expedition member Badrul Huzaimi Tajuddin.

Phang expressed concern that heightened security in the straits - which carry half of the world's oil and a third of its trade - would create an increase in traffic from maritime patrol boats.

"We expect a lot more activities that will infringe on the untouched islands," she said.

The United States and Singapore have recently expressed concerns that the thousands of commercial vessels and oil tankers plying the straits every year could become targets for terrorists from al-Qaeda and its regional affiliate, Jemaah Islamiah.

Malaysia has pledged increased security and last week announced that it would deploy a new paramilitary force in its territorial waters, including the straits.

Industrial waste, development along the coast, shipping and fishing activities have already polluted the narrow waterway, which slices peninsular Malaysia and Singapore from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, she said. - AFP