A guard at a Sabah resort hit by a band of 10 armed raiders has been detained and security forces now suspect there could be foreign involvement in the abduction of six workers, national police chief Norian Mai said today.

"We do not rule out that there may be a collusion between locals and foreigners in the kidnapping case," Norian was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Police had earlier said the kidnapping of the three Indonesian and three Filipino workers on Sunday was carried out by local criminals or "pirates" seeking ransom.

Although some of the kidnappers were wearing military fatigues and carried assault rifles, police ruled out speculation that they were members of the Philippine Muslim rebel group Abu Sayyaf, which has carried out similar raids in the past.

Norian did not elaborate today on who the "foreigners" involved in the latest case might be.

No news from abductors

He said a security guard at the tiny riverside Borneo Paradise Resort in Sabah on Borneo island was in detention. Asked if he was a suspect, Norian said: "Yes, he is helping the police."

The police chief, who is in Sabah to direct the search and rescue operation, said the abductors had not communicated with the authorities.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Wednesday pledged her government's help in tracking the gunmen.

Arroyo said in a statement that she had agreed with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to "close ranks" against the kidnappers. Both leaders are attending a Southeast Asian summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Malaysia had already beefed up security around the many resorts in Sabah after the previous kidnapping incidents, but the United States maintains an advisory warning its citizens against travel to the area. - AFP