Singapore today urged greater cooperation with Malaysia in the fight to contain Sars and said they should avoid "recriminations" over alleged exports of the disease from the city-state to its larger neighbor.

"Sars is a serious threat facing our entire region. Singapore has said publicly that it is not in its interest to 'export' Sars cases to others," the Home Affairs Ministry (MHA) said in a statement.

"Indeed, we should all cooperate and work harmoniously to fight the disease," it said.

Clarification

Singapore also urged Malaysian officials to stop publicly airing recriminations through the media about alleged lapses in the screening of departing passengers showing symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

Malaysia has alleged that some of the passengers had ended up in Malaysia.

The Singapore statement said Tan Guong Ching, permanent secretary of MHA and chairman of the executive group of Sars, has written the Malaysian Health Ministry Secretary GeneralAlias Ali, to clarify the reports.

"As recriminations aired publicly do not help to resolve these issues, Tan suggested to Alias that if Malaysia still had any difficulties o­n the ground, to call him or to e-mail to him and he would try to address any concerns that the Malaysian officials might have," it said.

Overcoming doubts

Tan also said that to overcome doubts about the screening process for potential Sars cases, health officials should be stationed at each other's checkpoints.

Singapore denied allegations its officials were not forthcoming with information o­n cases referred by the Malaysians.

Sars has killed 31 people out of 206 cases in Singapore. Malaysia has listed o­nly five cases including two deaths. AFP