It was unacceptable for the agreement to be signed so far away in Belgium when it could be done here, said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"We have agreed to sign the special agreement to take the matter to the ICJ but why should it be done in Brussels. Do it here," Mahathir was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

He said he did not understand why Singapore wanted the pact to be inked on the sidelines of a summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union in Brussels on January 27 or 28.

Malaysia has sent a letter of protest to the Singapore government over its refusal to cease activities on the Batu Puteh islet -- known in Singapore as Pedra Branca -- until the dispute was resolved.

Malaysian police has advised fishermen and politicians to stay away from the area until the dispute is settled.

Malaysia maintains it has had sovereignty since the early 16th century over the islet but Singapore says it has exercised sovereign rights since the 1840s when the British colonial government occupied the islet and constructed a lighthouse.

The rival claims over the strategically located islet near the mouth of the Singapore Strait is one of several issues straining bilateral ties between the Southeast Asian neighbours.

Both are also in dispute over water that Malaysia supplies to the resource-starved city-state and the use by Singapore jet fighters of Malaysian air space.

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