Singapore's former prime minister Goh Chok Tong will meet Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss outstanding bilateral issues when he visits Kuala Lumpur next month, local reports said Sunday.

Goh will meet the Malaysian leader on Dec 13 and the issues to be discussed include a proposed bridge linking the two neighbours and the long-term supply of raw water to Singapore, NewsRadio 93.8 station reported.

Relations between the countries, often rocky since Singapore left the Malaysian federation in 1965, have improved rapidly since Abdullah took over from Malaysia's feisty veteran leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad in October 2003.

Disputes over several issues including the price of raw water sold to Singapore, Singapore's military access to Malaysian airspace as well as the future of Malaysian-owned railway land inside Singapore have often marred ties.

Special envoy

Goh, who was named as a special envoy to Malaysia last month by his successor Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, said it was important that the neighbours work together.

"Because we are two neighbours... so it's important therefore that we get to know one another, then we can do much more together," Goh said.

Goh also wants to boost exchanges between Singaporean and Malaysian youth.

"Over the years, younger Malaysians and younger Singaporeans have not been mixing... so that will be on my mind - how we can get the younger ones especially to interact more," Goh said.

Goh, 63, took the title of Senior Minister - number two in Singapore's political hierarchy - after stepping down as prime minister in August after 14 years in power in favour of his deputy Lee, son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew.