Malaysian police arrested Philippine Muslim leader Nur Misuari at a remote island off Malaysia's Sabah state yesterday.

Misuari who is wanted by Manila for allegedly instigating an uprising in southern Philippines, and six of his followers, were arrested at 3.30 am. yesterday on Jampiras island, off Sabah on Borneo, Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai said.

Norian was quoted by the official Bernama news agency as saying that Misuari and his people were arrested for "entering Malaysia illegally".

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praised Malaysia yesterday for the swift arrest of Misuari.

Arroyo has been notified of the arrest and "she's very satisfied that the Malaysian government has been efficient enough to arrest him," her spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao told DZBB radio here.

Tiglao said he had been informed that Misuari was taken to the Sabah state capital of Kota Kinabalu. He said Manila would hold talks with Kuala Lumpur to discuss the deportation of the former guerrilla leader turned politician.

"We'll have to evaluate if we have fair ground to seek" his deportation," Tiglao said. "We'll have to talk to them." The two neighbours lack an extradition treaty.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Jose Brilliantes said "Misuari left Jolo aboard a speed boat," adding that it was believed in some quarters that he was en route to the Gulf.

"Misuari and his companions could not be brought back to the Philippines immediately because they were arrested for violation of Malaysian laws (illegal entry) and Malaysia may want to enforce its laws first," explained Tiglao.

"If Malaysia decides to have a trial on the charges against Misuari, we just have to respect the Malaysian government as a friend. Maybe, later, we can have him extradited. Misuari may have been trying to set up an Abu Sayyaf cell in Malaysia since he has linked himself with the bandits," Tiglao added.

Tiglao expressed the government's determination to put Misuari in jail.

"Definitely," he said. "We have to enforce the law."

Arroyo, while on a visit to Cebu, central Philippines, called for an emergency meeting. The Philippine government accused Misuari of leading some Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members to renew an armed struggle and raid the army headquarters, several military detachments and police stations, which killed 160 people in Jolo, southern Philippines on November 19.

Misuari launched his revolt after Arroyo decided to back an MNLF rival in an election to be held tomorrow to choose the next Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor.

The government has deployed thousands of troops to Jolo to deter attempts by Misuari followers to disrupt the balloting.

A Jolo court this week ordered the arrest of the MNLF founder and incumbent governor of the ARMM to stand trial for rebellion in connection with the latest revolt.