A total of 2,703 personnel, 29 ships and 86 aircraft are expected to take part in the June 21-July 5 exercise in the South China Sea, codenamed "Flying Fish 2003," a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.

The triennial war games, hosted by Malaysia, is conducted under the auspices of the Five-Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), a 32-year-old group formed as a bulwark for threats against Singapore and Malaysia.

"We don't see any problems to proceed with the exercise. Participating countries have no qualms about joining in this year despite the SARS outbreak," the spokesman said.

"But inter-personnel contact will be minimised to prevent the risk of anyone being infected by SARS."

Royal Malaysian Navy chief Mohamad Ramly Abu Bakar, in remarks published Tuesday, said there was no fear of SARS infection as it did not involve close contact between navy staff.

"We only have radio contact with one another. There is no risk of our personnel being infected by any disease," he said.

But Malaysia will not take any chances and will closely monitor the health of the participants, he added.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has claimed 31 lives in Singapore -- the world's fourth highest death toll -- out of 206 cases while Malaysia has seen two deaths out of five cases.

WAR.WIRE