The government has rejected the idea of arming airline pilots with guns as a means of countering hijacking, Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik said in remarks published Tuesday.

Commenting on a recent decision by the US House of Representatives to allow pilots to carry weapons, Ling said: "I don't think it is necessary because in America you know everyone carries a gun. In Malaysia only licensed people are allowed to carry arms."

Malaysia would use other measures to ensure security in the air, including installing locks on cockpit doors as suggested by the International Air Transport Association, he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

"We will follow international rules for the safety of pilots and aircraft because that is discussed and accepted by the world," Ling said.

The Malaysia Airlines Pilots Association, representing 85 percent of pilots in the country, has also rejected the idea of carrying guns, saying it would be a "futile exercise."