"(The relationship) is not good. I think it is a relationship full of uncertainties," Syed Hamid told the Star newspaper in an interview.

While Malaysia believed in good neighbourliness, Singapore was trying to "score points all the time" and had on many occasions done things that were inconsiderate, he said.

Syed Hamid cited as an example the fact that Malaysia was forced to move out of its naval base in Singapore 10 years ago, accusing the island republic of reneging on an agreement made before its independence from the Malay Federation in 1965.

Singapore increased the rental three-fold in 1991, he said, adding that although Malaysia had spent millions of dollars on the base it was not compensated when it was forced to withdraw.

Relations between Malaysia and Singapore should be deeper than with the other eight members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations because of their shared history, but Singapore tended to give negative signals to other countries in an effort to belittle Malaysia, Syed Hamid said.

He cited the case of Malaysia's wish to host a secretariat for the ASEAN-Plus-Three grouping with China, Japan South Korea, which has been opposed by Singapore.

"That is why bilateral relations have been violent sometimes. It is a very strong word because there are ups and downs ... violent movements, violent fluctuations ... not violent in a physical sense," he said.

"There are so many things we are not happy about. So I think it is not an easy relationship. We are on talking terms, but it is not good."

Other disputes straining bilateral ties include the pricing of Malaysian water supplies to the resource-starved island state, a proposed new bridge linking the two countries and the use of Malaysian airspace by Singaporean aircraft.

The two neighbours are now also locked in a war of words over ownership of a strategically located islet known as Batu Putih off the coasts of both countries, which is occupied by Singapore.

Malaysia maintains it has had sovereignty over Batu Putih since the early 16th century, while Singapore says it has exercised sovereign rights on what it calls Pedra Branca since the 1840s, when the British colonial government occupied the islet and constructed a lighthouse.

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