KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia must be prepared to face a possible flood of Philippine refugees following the conflict in the southern part of that country, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Violence flared in the southern Philippines last month after followers of Filipino Muslim leader Nur Misuari staged a failed uprising on Jolo island in which about 160 people were killed.
Some 250 loyalists of Misuari on Tuesday fought pitched battles with government troops on the outskirts of southern Zamboanga city.
Misuari, who is facing charges of rebellion in the Philippines, was arrested in the Malaysian state of Sabah last weekend for entering the country illegally.
The Star newspaper reported on Sunday that 10 more naval vessels would be deployed in Sabah waters to beef up security.
Malaysian Armed Forces chief Mohd Zahidi Zainuddin was quoted by the paper as saying that there were already 10 vessels carrying out surveillance in the area.
Asked if Malaysia would send back the Philippine refugees, Abdullah said the government would study the situation first.
officials reiterated that the Malaysian government did not plan to keep Misuari for too long in this country.
Malaysia has said it was ready to deport Misuari any time and lacks only the green light from Manila to do so.