(AFP) - The military in Sabah has been placed on high alert to stop the entry of Filipino rebels, Defence Minister Najib Razak said today.

Sabah waters were being closely guarded, he said, adding that land, sea and air patrols had been intensified and reserve forces placed on standby.

"We are studying the different types of scenarios that can occur if the conflict in the southern Philippines becomes more intense," Bernama quoted Najib as saying.

"The possibilities are - entry of refugees, terrorists using Malaysia to hide and the kidnapping of our people to use them as hostages," he said.

Najib said air force C-130 aircraft were patrolling the waters off Sabah "day and night."

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

Bloody revolt

Malaysia is worried refugees will flood neighbouring Sabah in search of security, Bernama quoted Abdullah as saying.

"(Filipino Muslim rebel leader)Nur Misuari fled to our place. If he did that, there is a big possibility his people will resort to the same action," said Abdullah, who is also home affairs minister.

Malaysian authorities are holding Misuari at an undisclosed location after he fled to Sabah after launching a bloody revolt on 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 Muslim-dominated Malaysia would deport 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.