Malaysia is again protesting the defiant actions of neighbouring Singapore, which continues unabated construction on a tiny disputed island, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said today.

In an interview with the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia , Syed Hamid said Kuala Lumpur considers it disrespectful that Singapore was proceeding with building on Batu Puteh island off its southern Johor state.

Singapore is acting as if it already owns the island, Syed Hamid is quoted as saying, a position Malaysia deeply disagrees with and for which it has already lodged a protest.

The dispute over the island is on its way to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Act of provocation

Another senior minister also reinforced Malaysia's opposition to Singapore's construction on the island.

Information Minister Khalil Yaakob, who serves as secretary-general of the dominant Umno, warned any Singaporean activity on the island could be considered a provocation.

"We urge Singapore to stop immediately all activities on the island until the matter is decided by the international court," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency

Singapore's claim to the rocky island is partially based on the lighthouse it has maintained there since 1851. Malaysia in response says it has had sovereignty over the island since the early 16th century.

Radar tower

Syed Hamid said as the two sides had agreed to file the case to the ICJ, Singapore should have postponed its construction of a two-storey building and a helicopter landing strip.

Singapore has also placed a permanent marine patrol unit in the area and installed a radar tower to monitor ships, the newspaper reported.

The territorial dispute began when Singapore first laid claim to the island in 1980, 25 years after declaring independence from Malaysia after it was booted from the Malaysian Federation. It earned its independence in 1965.

Last Thursday, Syed Hamid said a draft special agreement had been prepared to bring the dispute to the ICJ.

Malaysia last week celebrated its win in a territorial dispute with Indonesia over the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan and announced it had set its sights on other offshore claims, including Batu Puteh.

The ICJ ruling for Malaysia ended a three-decade wrangle between Malaysia and Indonesia. AFP