The Sarawak State in East Malaysia was intensifying its cooperation with Brunei and Indonesia 's Kalimantan provinces in taking measures against the flu A (H1N1), a Sarawak official said on Sunday.

"The cooperation is essential through the movement of people across border checkpoints...for example, visitors leaving and arriving will be screened, especially those who returned from the affected countries via Brunei," Sarawak's Deputy Chief Minister George Chan said at Miri.

Those suspected of having the flu would be sent to the Medical Department for further action, he said at the Sarawak's second largest city.

"Although it's called swine flu, this new strain is not infecting pigs and has never been seen in pigs," he said.

"The threat is person-to-person transmission," he added.

Among other measures, special wards had been set up at three hospitals in Kuching, capital city of the state, Chan said.

He stressed that although Malaysia was free from the swine flu, the people must not be complacent and should practice strict personal hygiene as a preventive measure against it.