Health ministry secretary-general Alias Ali said pre-departure screening for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was the responsibility of affected countries.

"Futhermore, Malaysia has stationed seven of its own officers to undertake arrival screening of railway passengers at Tanjung Pagar (railaway station in Singapore)," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Bernama said the proposal was made by the permanent secretary of Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry, Tan Guong Ching, in a letter dated May 24.

Alias said in his reply to Tan that Malaysia had sought further information regarding four cross-border SARS related cases.

Last month Malaysian health officials criticised Singapore for allowing four people with SARS symptoms to enter Malaysia.

Malaysia and Singapore health officials would meet in the republic Friday to discuss other issues related to the pneumonia-like respiratory virus, Alias said.

Malaysia has taken a series of tough measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus, including ordering a quarantine on students from SARS-hit countries and Filipino workers.

Two people have died from seven SARS infections in Malaysia and there has been a major impact on business.

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