Malaysia, locked in a row with neighbouring Singapore over ownership of a tiny islet, today advised fishermen and politicians to stay away from the area until the dispute is settled.

Johor police chief Mukhtar Ismail told the public not to take unnecessary risks by going to the disputed Batu Putih islet.

"For the time being, I will not encourage members of the public to go near the Batu Puteh because we cannot guarantee their safety at sea," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Johor police have also advised the youth wing of the ruling Umno against carrying out plans to go to the atoll.

"If anything untoward happens...it will be difficult for us to act immediately. As such, my advice is to wait until the dispute has been resolved," Mukhtar said.

Close monitor

Malaysia maintains it has had sovereignty since the early 16th century over the islet but Singapore says it has exercised sovereign rights over what it calls Pedra Branca since the 1840s when the British colonial government occupied the islet and constructed a lighthouse.

The two countries have agreed to refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar yesterday said that Malaysia had sent a letter of protest to the Singapore government over its refusal to cease activities on the islet until the dispute was resolved.

"We have been sending official protests to the Singaporean government from time to time, and it will be an ongoing exercise if Singapore continues to carry out activities on the island," he said.

The islet should remain a "free zone" until a ruling by the ICJ, he said, adding that Malaysian authorities would be stationed near the area to monitor the island.

The rival claims over the strategically located islet near the mouth of the Singapore Strait is one of several issues straining bilateral ties between the the Southeast Asian neighbours.

Both are also in dispute over water that Malaysia supplies to the resource-starved city-state and the use by Singapore jet fighters of Malaysian air space. AFP