(AFP) Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad arrived in Singapore today for a private visit during which he will receive a business award along with Singapore's senior minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The two elder statesmen will be given the Asean Achievement Millennium Award by a business group to recognize their contributions to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mahathir, 75, has been in power for 20 years, while Lee, 77, was prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990.

Bernama news agency said Mahathir will receive the award "in recognition of his effort to turn Malaysia into an exemplary and dynamic nation".

Former Singapore president Wee Kim Wee was scheduled to present the awards to the two leaders at a black-tie dinner to be attended by some 600 business leaders from the two countries, including 250 from Malaysia.

The event is organised jointly by ABF and the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.

European visit

Mahathir will then visit Moscow tomorrow for a four-day visit during which he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The premier, who will be accompanied by Defense Minister Najib Razak, is also expected to discuss arms purchases during his stay, government officials said last week.

Mahathir will meet Putin in the Kremlin on Thursday for talks expected to last around two hours and will take part in a business forum Friday, the Malaysian embassy in Moscow said.

Last week, Najib said the government may revive a plan to buy a fleet of Sukhoi SU-30MK Russian fighter aircraft after shelving it four years ago.

The government earlier sent an air force team to Russia to evaluate the planes, which cost 35 million dollars (38.7 million euros) each, but has not made any concrete decision, Najib said.

Mahathir's visit is part of a wider trip to Europe, starting tomorrow, which will see him visit Britain, Russia and Germany.

He is expected to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair and German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.