British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has arrived in predominantly Muslim Malaysia for a three-day visit aimed at bolstering ties and gaining some insight into Islam, officials said Saturday.

British High Commission (embassy) officials said Prescott arrived late Friday and would hold private meetings Saturday before beginning his tour of Malaysia Sunday.

High on Prescott's agenda is a dialogue session with Muslim scholars late Sunday and a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on Monday.

"I'm keen to learn more about Malaysia's approach to being a successful, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural society in a rapidly changing world," he was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper Saturday.

"In a world of increasing interdependence, where mass migration and urbanisation are bringing together more and more people from differing cultures and religions, we need more understanding, more dialogue and more cooperation," he added.

Muslim debate

Britain is in the grip of debate about its Muslim community and their integration, 15 months on from a series of suicide bombings on London's transport system which killed 52 travellers and the four British Islamist bombers.

A controversy has also erupted in Britain over the wearing of veils by Muslim women.

Prescott will travel to the Forest Research Institute north of the capital Kuala Lumpur and visit the Nottingham University campus just south of the capital on Sunday. Prescott leaves for home Monday.

Malaysia, a former British colony, has a population of 27 million which is 60 percent Malay, 26 percent Chinese and eight percent Indian.