(AFP) - Malaysia must be prepared to face the possibility of refugees fleeing troubled southern Philippines, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

Malaysia is worried refugees will flood neighbouring Sabah in search of security, Bernama quoted Abdullah as saying yesterday . "Nur Misuari fled to our place. If he did that, there is a big possibility his people will resort to the same action," Abdullah, who is also the home affairs minister, said.

Malaysian authorities are holding Filipino Muslim leader Misuari at an undisclosed location after he fled to Sabah after launching a bloody revolt in Jolo island.

Misuari reportedly staged the revolt after Philippine President Gloria Arroyo backed a rival faction in his Moro National Liberation Front in polls for the post of governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

Asked if Malaysia would deport the refugees, Abdullah said the government would weigh the situation first.

"If it is really bad, we cannot force them to return to undergo hardship or face threat to their lives," he said.

On Misuari's detention, Abdullah said the government did not propose to hold him for too long in Malaysia. He did not elaborate.

Yesterday, Umno Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein urged the government to deport the rebel leader immediately.