The day trip includes a round of golf and an informal lunch with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Abdullah was accompanied by his top ministers and their spouses.

It was Abdullah's second visit to the next-door neighbour since taking over from Mahathir Mohammad in October. He last visited Singapore on January 12.

The visit also came a day after Goh, members of his cabinet and their spouses travelled to the Malaysian state of Johor Bahru just across a causeway to celebrate the Lunar New Year with Abdullah and his officials.

The Straits Times quoted Abdullah as saying in Johor on Saturday that the presence of the Singapore leaders, "we hope, is a good sign for ties between our two countries."

Observers said the exchange of visits should lead to renewed efforts to end a series of long-running disputes that have soured ties since Singapore was evicted from the Malayan Federation to become an independent state in 1965.

These disputes include rival claims to a rocky islet, land reclamation works carried out by Singapore, the use by Singapore military aircaft of Malaysian airspace and the price of raw water Malaysia supplies to its resource-starved neighbour.

Hopes for improved ties have brightened after Abdullah took over as he is regarded as having a more genial political style than his predecessor.

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