Organisers, however, have rejected and had to turn away a total of seven Singaporean bachelors seeking romance at the club's upcoming event, targeting single Malaysian Chinese aged 25 or older, in the southern state of Johor.

"We feel sorry for the Singaporean guys because our matchmaking services are only for Malaysians," Teh Siew Boey, the event organiser, was quoted by the Sunday Star newspaper as saying.

The "Cupid Club" was set up in July by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) to match up single Chinese and raise the birth rate of the minority population.

The club is run along similar lines to well-established schemes in Singapore, where the government has set up matchmaking programs targeting educated professionals who tend to marry later.

Teh said while organisers faced difficulties in recruiting local bachelors, the overwhelming interest from across the causeway showed that Singaporean men were interested in Malaysian girls.

"After much effort, we have so far managed to get over 100 participants," she said of the event which is open to 250 singles.

Teh urged single men not to shy away from the party, which will have games and dances aimed at setting the mood for romance.

Ethnic Chinese make up less than a quarter of Malaysia's 23 million population and the birth rate is falling faster than that of the Malay and Indian populations.

The community fears a loss of political influence if its numbers keep dwindling.

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