Dozens of people today marched in Kuala Lumpur to protest a US-backed trade deal - Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) - ahead of a three-day visit by US President Barack Obama.

Protesters carrying placards reading "No to TPPA" and "Obama get out with your TTPA agenda" marched outside the US embassy in Kuala Lumpur to denounce the TPPA, which is being negotiated by 12 countries, including Malaysia.

Muhammad Afiq Awang Bakar, one of the protesters, said the proposed trade deal would enable the US to control the Malaysian economy.

The TPPA is being touted as beneficial for growth and economic integration in the Asia Pacific region.

Malaysia's security forces went on highest alert in the capital ahead of Obama's arrival on Saturday. Obama will be the first American leader to visit the predominantly Muslim South-East Asian country in nearly 50 years.

The visit was expected to end mutual distrust between the US and Malaysia.

The US criticises the Malaysian government's alleged human rights abuses, while Malaysia says the US war on terror is anti-Muslim.

- dpa