Defence Minister Najib Razak said the findings of a study by the navy had been handed to the foreign ministry for action, without giving further details.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar announced earlier this week that he would soon submit a scientific report to Singapore on the impact of the island-state's reclamation works in the Tebrau Strait between the two countries.

"We hope that with our submission they'll become more convinced of our own concerns, because our concerns are real," he said.

"And I think we will do everything possible to ensure that our own survival and interests are not jeopardized as a result of the works carried out."

The land reclamation case has been simmering for months, with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad saying it affected the environment, the livelihood of Malaysian fishermen and the maritime border.

Officials have also charged that the project could obstruct ships headed for ports in Malaysia's southern state of Johor, which are being promoted to rival Singapore's port.

Relations between the neighbours have often been prickly since Singapore became independent of the Malay Federation in 1965, and current disputes include the pricing of Malaysia's water supplies to the resource-poor city-state and ownership of a tiny islet off the coast.

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