Malaysia has stepped up pressure on the United Nations to be allowed to join peacekeeping troops in Lebanon, a report said today.

"We want Asian nations like Malaysia and Brunei to be given the chance to play their respective role in Lebanon. This must be done fast," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told the New Straits Times .

Abdullah said he made his views known to Chinese premier Wen Jiabao - a permanent member of the UN Security Council - during bilateral talks in Helsinki, where they were attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

The Malaysian prime minister said he also told Wen that the reconstruction of war-torn Lebanon should be speeded up.

"We just cannot afford to let the civilians there continue to suffer and be deprived of development," Abdullah said.

Malaysia is waiting for a UN greenlight on its offer to send 1,000 peacekeeping soldiers to join the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

Israel, which it has strongly criticised, has objected to countries taking part which do not recognise the Jewish state.

Citing past peacekeeping experience, Malaysia has also argued that it has a role to play as a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which it is currently chairing.

Fellow OIC member Indonesia has been given the go-ahead to send 1,000 soldiers to Lebanon, while Qatar pledged up to 300 troops.

European nations have pledged 7,000 troops, including 2,000 from France, which will lead the UN force until February when Italy will take over.

Yesterday former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad criticised the government's offer to send 1,000 peacekeeping troops to Lebanon, saying it would only help "rescue Israel".