Malaysia's Deputy Works Minister Mohamad Zin Mohamad was quoted by local media on Thursday as saying about 5 percent of work on Malaysia's half of the bridge had been carried out, and was expected to be finished by 2009.

"Singapore is surprised by the comments," the city-state's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. "At this very moment, a Singapore team is in Kuala Lumpur to negotiate a balance of benefits for the full bridge."

The statement said Singapore will be sending a 'third-party note' to Malaysia to seek clarification.

The bridge would replace a causeway that currently links the two sides.

Singapore says it is still evaluating the project's economic impact, but Malaysian officials have said the design of the bridge will allow the city-state to link up later.

More than 100,000 people cross the causeway over the Straits of Johor each day, and Malaysian officials have said a new bridge would ease congestion and boost the flow of traffic between the neighbors.

The project had been part of an earlier deal that included contentious talks on Malaysia's supply of water to Singapore, but negotiations stopped in 2002 without a resolution.

The two countries have a history of diplomatic spats, but have close economic and cultural ties.

                                                      Home