Malaysia will deploy some 250 policemen to help restore security in violence-scarred East Timor, a top police official said today.

"We will help in whatever way needed. We are tasked to bring back police enforcement in the capital of Dili and make it as a safe place," inspector general of police Mohamed Bakri Omar was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Mohamed Bakri said they would depart next Thursday.

Bernama said the personnel were mostly from the military-trained general operation forces and crime investigation department which specialise in public order.

Mohamed Bakri said the officials would also assist Timor police officers to reestablish their police force.

Most Timor police officers received their training in Malaysia four years ago.

Malaysia has already sent 209 soldiers to Timor to help restore order after ethnic unrest was triggered by a military rebellion.

The Malaysian troops are securing several strategic locations including power stations, oil depots and hospitals.

The May unrest in which at least 21 people died was the worst to hit East Timor since it voted for independence in 1999, when pro-Indonesian militias killed some 1,400 people.