Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived here today for a four-day visit overshadowed by a new row over the island state's land reclamation drive.

The Malaysian foreign ministry said the trip, during which Lee will meet his counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, was aimed at enhancing bilateral relations.

However, the visit comes amid a growing dispute over Singapore's land reclamation work in the narrow Tebrau Straits separating the two countries.

Malaysia fears the project is too close to its border and could obstruct ships headed for ports in its southern state of Johor, which are being promoted to rival Singapore's port.

Mahathir last week urged Singapore to give an assurance that the project would not unsettle the sea bed and affect passage for boats through Malaysia's waters.

But Singapore's foreign ministry argued there was no legal basis to Malaysia's concerns as the reclamation was carried out entirely within Singaporean territory and in line with international law.

Fresh strain

The row has put a fresh strain on often prickly relations between Malaysia and its tiny but prosperous neighbour.

Since Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian Federation in 1965, the two have become economic rivals, with fast-industrialising Malaysia steadily closing the wealth gap with the island.

Apart from the land reclamation project, largely Muslim Malaysia has also criticised Singapore's ban on Islamic headscarves in schools and its recent suspension of three girls who flouted the ban.

Other issues that have strained ties include water supplies, a proposed bridge linking the countries and the use of Malaysian airspace by Singaporean aircraft.

Lee, accompanied by a 12-member entourage including three members of parliament, was greeted on arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Deputy Foreign Minister Leo Michael Toyad.

Apart from Mahathir and Abdullah, he is scheduled to meet Defence Minister Najib Razak and Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar before returning to Singapore on Thursday.