SINGAPORE - Singapore today rejected Malaysian allegations the city-state violated an Asean agreement when it turned back a probable Sars case at their land border.

The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) said the agreement among Asean members not to refuse entry to Sars cases and treat them in the country where they arrive in applies to travellers who land at the airport.

ICA said that bilaterally, Singapore and Malaysian immigration authorities have already worked out o­n April 21 a "safe passage protocol to convey sick travellers back to the country of embarkation" and this has been in place since May 7.