A Malaysian booklet on a long-standing water supply row with Singapore will hit the streets tomorrow in the latest salvo against the island-state, reports said Sunday.

It follows the end of an eight-day media blitz Sunday featuring full page advertisements in all major daily newspapers here as well as in the Asian Wall Street Journal .

The 20-page booklet will be sold at just three sen (less than one cent), the price Singapore pays for every 1,000 gallons (4,550 litres) of water it buys from Malaysia, the New Straits Times said.

Entitled "Water: The Singapore-Malaysia Dispute," the booklet and the media drive aimed to highlight the fact that Malaysia was only asking a "fair price for our water," said Mustapa Mohamed, executive director of the National Economic Action Council which headed the exercise.

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

But it mounted the media blitz after Singapore published a booklet containing copies of letters between national leaders on the water issue, which provoked anger from Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Facts twisted

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Saturday the door was still open for talks with Singapore but told its neighbour to be honest and sincere.

He said Singapore had twisted the facts of the case and Malaysia was tired of "debating" with the island-state.

"I think the ball is at Singapore's feet now. There must be seriousness and sincerity on their part to achieve something. And they must feel that the three sen per 1,000 gallons is an unfair and unreasonable price," he added.

Water is just one of many key irritants in 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 and ownership of a rocky islet claimed by both countries. - AFP