Kuala Lumpur, Feb 16 (IANS): Australian Senator Nick Xenophon was detained at a Malaysian airport Saturday and would be deported as the immigration declared him a "security risk", Malaysian opposition said.

Xenophon had planned to meet Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, minister in charge of legislation, Nazri Aziz, and the Malaysian Election Commission officials, Anwar's chief of staff Ibrahim Yaacob said.

Xenophon was quoted in a phone call by the Australian press that he was being held in an interrogation room and that the immigration staff would get him on the next plane out of Malaysia, reported Xinhua.

He said his detention was possibly due to a report he wrote last month critical of human rights in Malaysia.

Ibrahim said there are more Australian senators and MPs arriving Sunday to observe Malaysia's electoral system.

Xenophon had come to Malaysia last April as an election observer after being invited by Anwar.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is due to call a general election before June this year as the parliamentary mandate ends in March.

The Australian department of foreign affairs and trade was not available for comments.