Malaysia has reportedly agreed to a Rudd government request to slash its length of stay for visas in order to dissuade Australian-bound asylum seekers using it as a stopover.
Under the changes, a visa granted on arrival will allow people from certain unnamed countries that are generating asylum seekers, to stay for 14 days down from 90 days before.
Malaysia Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Australian government had requested the move.
"The issue should be taken seriously because it involves human trafficking and transnational crime," he said in a statement on his website.
He does not name the countries affected.
Malaysian police will work with the immigration department to implement the changes, he said.
Comment has been sought from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.
A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the federal government was in contact with neighbouring countries on ways to combat people smuggling.
She said the management of visas was a domestic issue for countries.
Australia and Malaysia are among the participants at a conference addressing people smuggling in Indonesia on August 20.
