The office of former Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou has expressed regret over the changing of Ma's title by Sin Chew Daily .

Sin Chew, a leading Chinese-language newspaper in Malaysia, had referred Ma as the "former Taiwan leader" in its Nov 14 exclusive interview, not "former Taiwan president" as it did on the Nov 12 and 13 articles.

This has prompted Ma's office to immediately issue a statement, saying that Ma will not entertain any more interviews from the daily.

The statement soon made headlines in the Taiwan media.

According to Taiwan's Liberty Times Net, Ma's office said Sin Chew had violated the media principle, that was to uphold the truth and not be manipulated by politics.

It was also reported that Ma's office had asked Sin Chew to respect the fact that Ma is the immediate past president of Taiwan.

Sin Chew had secured an earlier interview in Taipei with Ma who will arrive in Malaysia for a four-day visit starting tomorrow.

On Monday, the daily quoted him as saying that he was touched by how the Chinese in this country run its education and the independent schools.

When contacted, Sin Chew editorial director Pook Ah Lek declined to comment.

"I am off today, no comment," he said curtly.

Ma is slated to speak at the Southern University College in Johor Baru on Tuesday and visit Penang on the following day. On Thursday, he will speak at the World Chinese Economic Forum in Malacca.

Southern University College had addressed Ma as the "former Taiwan leader" in its poster but later amended it following a protest from Ma's office.

Ma wishes to advocate Chinese culture and explain the Taiwan Go-South policies in Malaysia.