Why is Malaysia not friendly towards Singapore? Because Singapore is not friendly towards Malaysia, says Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"They ask us why we are not friendly. It is because they are not friendly. We try to be as friendly as possible but it is impossible," Mahathir told reporters Friday.

The veteran prime minister had been asked to comment on his Singaporean counterpart Goh Chok Tong's rejection of Malaysia's dream of hosting a secretariat for the "Asean-plus-three" grouping.

"Singapore rejects everything that comes from Malaysia," he said.

Asean-plus-three is the dialogue grouping of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with China, Japan and South Korea.

Mahathir's musings reflect the irritations that have dogged relations between the two neighbours since Singapore ceded from the Malaya Federation in 1965.

The tiny, resource-poor island state went on to become one of the wealthiest in Asia, and a rapidly developing, resource-rich Malaysia now jockeys for top spot in a number of regional enterprises. AFP