KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Olympic flame arrived in Malaysia on Sunday ahead of a relay in which it will be guarded by 1,000 police watching for protests against China’s Tibet crackdown and human rights record.

The flame arrived from Bangkok on a plane dedicated to carry it to all 19 international destinations on the torch relay before it lands in Beijing for the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in August.

A Buddhist group held special prayers Sunday at a temple in Kuala Lumpur to call for a trouble-free run of the torch Monday and a peaceful Olympics.

Some 300 Chinese students studying in Malaysia greeted the flame at the airport along with representatives from the National Sports Council and the police, a statement from Olympic Council of Malaysia said.

“Malaysia takes this opportunity to reiterate that the Beijing Olympics should not be politicized and remains confident that the Olympics will be successfully held in August 2008,” Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said in a statement.

The flame was taken to a luxury hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur ahead of Monday’s relay run starting at nearby Independence Square.

Its 10-mile route will highlight various landmarks, including the top of the Kuala Lumpur Tower, a telecommunications installation that provides a scenic aerial view of the city.

Protests in other cities have triggered an unprecedented security detail for the Malaysian leg.