KL minister spurns S'pore demand

KL minister spurns S'pore demand

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's minister of tourism has refused to apologize after criticizing Singapore for allegedly excluding Malaysia from a list of coveted tourist destinations, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbors was sparked last week. Malaysian Minister of Tourism Sabbaruddin Chik alleged a conference organizer in Singapore deliberately excluded Malaysia from a brochure of countries to be visited by delegates to an upcoming convention.

On Saturday, Singapore's Minister without Portfolio Lim Boon Heng said Sabbaruddin should apologize for "totally unwarranted" comments.

"Why should I apologize?," Sabbaruddin was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Star newspaper. "The organizers should apologize to Malaysia for excluding us from their brochure."