MALAYSIA demanded an apology after Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew alleged that ethnic Chinese were marginalized here in remarks that have inflamed tensions.

Malaysia summoned the Singaporean ambassador and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who labelled Lee's remarks unjustified, said he had sent a letter to the Singapore government.

"We have not received an answer from Lee Kuan Yew yet," he told reporters. "I will not discuss this issue as long as I have not received a reply."

Lee, the city-state's founding father and now minister mentor, reportedly said earlier this month that Malaysia's and Indonesia's minority Chinese communities were being systematically marginalized.

He also said it was vital that Singapore, which is predominantly ethnic Chinese, stands up to its majority Muslim neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar called for an apology from Singapore, saying that Lee had overstepped the boundaries.

"I think that statement went beyond fair comment, describing something that is not true within our country," the minister told reporters. "It should be right for them to say that they are sorry for the effect of the statement."

Syed Hamid said that Singapore's High Commissioner to Malaysia, T. Jasudasen, had been summoned to the ministry to explain the remarks.

"We want to know exactly what is the meaning of that statement," Syed Hamid said.

"We've given our views, how we feel about it, so we will wait for his response. Subsequently, we will decide what to do," Syed Hamid said when asked if the envoy had apologized.

Malaysia and Singapore have strong economic ties but the two nations have squabbled periodically since Singapore was ejected from the new Malaysian federation in 1965 due to race politics.

Malaysia's 26.6-million-strong population consists of some 60 percent Malay Muslims but the economy is largely controlled by ethnic Chinese who account for 26 percent.

Lee's remarks also created an uproar among politicians in Indonesia, where Singapore's ambassador to Jakarta was summoned Tuesday to explain the statements.

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