Malaysian, S'pore relations improve

Malaysian, S'pore relations improve

SINGAPORE: Diplomatic and economic ties between Malaysia and its southern neighbor Singapore have vastly improved, Malaysia's High Commissioner to the city-state said on Wednesday, pointing to a desire for better relations at the highest levels of government.

The marked change has come since the acerbic Mahathir Mohamad stepped down last November after 22 years as Malaysia's prime minister. He was replaced by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, regarded as a more conciliatory in nature.

"There is a desire on the part of Singapore, as well as Malaysia, to improve relations," N. Parameswaran told reporters. "When it was bad, it was really bad. Now you are beginning to see what its like when it's good."

Under Mahathir, Malaysia and Singapore argued often about a host of petty differences - from ownership of an islet no larger than a football field to the price of water that Malaysia's Putrajaya sells to the city-state. --AP