The Singapore-based Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) said its decision to cancel its support for the seminar, held in Malaysia this week, came after organisers failed to give assurances the conference would be non-partisan.

It said it feared the seminar could provide a forum for Asian and European countries to be singled out for criticism, which would be contrary to the foundation's mandate to promote mutual understanding.

"The suggestion by the SDP (Singapore Democratic Party) that the Singapore government was involved in ASEF's decision has no basis in fact whatsoever," the foundation said in a statement.

"We deeply regret the suggestion."

On Wednesday, the Singapore Democratic Party slammed the foundation for withdrawing S$20,000 (US$11,764) in financial support for the seminar, which was held in Kuala Lumpur from June 14-18.

It suggested the foundation had caved in to government pressure because among the participants in the seminar -- organised by the International Federation of Liberal Youth -- was the party's youth wing, the SDP Young Democrats.

Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan is a fierce critic of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) and has faced jail terms and fines for defaming government officials or breaching strict laws against political rallies.

The opposition party questioned the foundation's independence from the host government and called on "democratic minded governments in Asia and Europe" to investigate the matter.

"Or has the organisation been assimilated into the Singapore establishment to portray to the world what the PAP wants ASEF to portray?" the SDP said.

ASEF was established in 1997 to promote greater understanding between the two regions through intellectual, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

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