"There is nothing to discuss as yet," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters. "We have just terminated negotiations. I don't think we should start to talk about any issues."

Syed Hamid's remarks came days after Malaysia abandoned contentious plans to build a bridge over the two-kilometer-wide (mile-wide) strait separating the two countries.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced last week that Cabinet has scrapped the bridge idea because many Malaysians could not accept Singapore's preconditions for the project - that Malaysia supply it with sand for reclamation projects, and give Singapore military jets access to Malaysian air space.

Singapore and Malaysia have squabbled for years over numerous issues, occasionally trying to resolve them through talks. Recent negotiations have focused on the bridge, though outstanding issues include the price of water Malaysia sells the city-state and questions over Malaysian-owned land in Singapore.

Syed Hamid insisted that the two countries were "not quarreling," but have both taken positions they consider beneficial to their citizens.

The decision not to resume talks on any pending issues has been taken "in what we consider the best interest of the country," Syed Hamid said.

He gave no indication as to when he thought talks could resume.

Separately, Abdullah's predecessor Mahathir Mohamad - who was Malaysia's prime minister for 22 years - reportedly criticized the government for caving in too quickly to Singapore on the bridge issue.

"I never thought in my lifetime that this country would surrender its sovereignty to anybody," the New Straits Times newspaper quoted Mahathir as saying.

"We fought very hard for independence" from Britain, Mahathir said. "Today, people respect us. But if we do this and surrender to Singapore, then you lose your honor."

Mahathir had proposed the bridge before he retired in 2003.

Malaysia had said it would build half the bridge, and let Singapore complete the link later. But Abdullah said this could be construed as a violation of international treaties with Singapore.

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