Malaysia is stepping up border security by becoming the first nation to issue passports with thumb prints and ordering guards to detain and deport "suspicious" characters even if they have valid travel documents, it was announced today.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said passports bearing right and left thumb prints would be issued from January.

"It aims to fight forgery and abuse of the passport. The new feature is needed to enhance security of the country," he said in a speech to immigration officials.

Abdullah, who is also the interior minister, said the new passport would be the first of its kind in the world.

Deputy Interior Minister Zainal Abidin also said enforcement agencies guarding Malaysian borders have been ordered to turn away suspicious individuals even if they have valid travel documents.

"If they are suspicious, immigration officials can detain them and deport them without giving any reasons," he said, when asked what measures are in place to Muslim guerrillas fleeing to Malaysia from the southern Philippines.

Passports in demand

"We have increased our security presence. We are not going to allow then to sneak into Malaysia," he added.

Philippine intelligence has suggested at least 10 members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group have fled to Malaysia's eastern Sabah state.

Zainal said the immigration department detected 35 cases of falsified passports in 2002 out of the 1.2 million passports issued.

"These passports were stolen and then were tampered with," he told reporters.

Zainal urged Malaysians to keep their passports safe after 6,000 went missing this year.

"Malaysian passports are in demand because it allows the bearer to travel to many countries without a visa. A single passport can fetch some 40 thousand dollars in the black market," he said. AFP