Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today accused Singapore of using "unethical" tactics in a row over water that has sparked a tit-for-tat publishing duel.

Mahathir was angered by Singapore's recent publication of a booklet on the squabble, which contained copies of letters exchanged by national leaders over the controversial issue.

"That is unethical," Mahathir told reporters. "Now it's very difficult to write letters because we know it's going to be used for propaganda. It will be used as evidence against you."

Our version

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar has said Malaysia will publish its own booklet giving a "true" account of the affair, but Mahathir said it would not stoop to Singapore's level and publish private correspondence.

"We can publish a similar booklet or put it up in the papers. We will explain every point, we will give our version of the problem. They have given their version and we don't think it is right at all," he said.

At the heart of the row is the price paid by tiny but wealthy Singapore for raw water from its large neighbour, which supplies half its daily needs.

Malaysia sells the water to Singapore at three sen per 1,000 gallons, under terms of decades-old agreements. Kuala Lumpur wants a price increase.

Offer to buy land

With a typically sarcastic flourish, Mahathir offered to buy land in Singapore at similarly outdated prices.

"Is anything which was sold at three sen in 1957 being sold at three sen in the year 2003? If they can sell to us something produced by Singapore at three sen in 1957, land for example, we would like to buy it at three sen."

Malaysia decided to halt talks on the issue last year after it failed to secure a price increase, and said it was considering taking legal action against Singapore.

Singapore's book -- entitled "Water talks? If only it could" -- accuses Malaysia of being unreasonable and frequently changing its stance.

Singapore has begun a limited waste water recycling programme to cut its dependence on Malaysian imports and has said it will be able to let one of two water agreements lapse in 2011. The second agreement expires in 2061.

Water has been a key irritant in bilateral relations since Singapore left the Malaysian Federation and gained independence in 1965.

Other disputes include a proposed new bridge linking the countries, use of Malaysian airspace by Singaporean aircraft, the location of Malaysia's customs, immigration and quarantine facilities in Singapore and ownership of a rocky islet claimed by both countries. - AFP