The government plans to use unmanned surveillance aircraft next year to patrol its land and sea borders.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Razak said the Malaysian-made, remote-controlled pilotless aircraft would be upgraded for military use after the army signed a contract with the manufacturers.

"It fulfils all basic needs and can fly remotely with no landing problems," Najib was quoted saying by the Star daily.

"The data link images are very good but we intend to buy higher capacity engines and also better quality cameras to fulfil the army's specifications," he said.

Najib said the drones could also be used by the police, customs and the fire and rescue department.

He said the armed forces would take delivery of the aircraft in about a year, state Bernama news agency reported.

Malaysia shares borders with Singapore in the south and Thailand in the north. It is separated from Indonesia's Sumatra island by the Malacca straits and also shares a border with the country on Borneo island.

Border security issues include timber smuggling, illegal immigration, criminal gangs, piracy and encroaching fishermen.