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Malaysia is threatening war in an island row

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Malaysia's leadership greeted the New Year with two statements of aggression toward its neighbours.

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One threatened to go to war with its closest neighbour Singapore over an island dispute. The other offered a 'bloody nose' to countries such as Australia for its 'white-man sheriff' attitude.

The comments appear to reflect Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's desire to stamp his mark domestically on what he claims will be his last year in power.

The Bernama news agency reported Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar demanding, under threat of war, that Singapore learn to compromise over the disputed island of Batu Puteh, which is also known as Pedra Branca.

'Singapore has two choices. If it refuses to compromise . . . go to war,' Mr Syed Hamid said on Tuesday.

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He accused Singapore of caring only about its economy, claiming that Malaysia was generally more intent on being a good neighbour who believes war is not the answer.

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