By Zuraidah Ibrahim, Foreign Editor

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore and Malaysia should not allow thorny or 'legacy issues' to hobble cooperation in other productive areas such as the Iskandar project, said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Both sides now enjoy a considerable warming of ties while the sharp rhetoric of the past has almost disappeared, he said in an interview ahead of his introductory visit to Singapore today.

Describing relations as much more constructive and cooperative now, he added: 'I hope that the relationship will continue to improve in the years to come. It is incumbent upon our two governments to not allow some difficult - or if you like, thorny - bilateral issues to impede and hamper whatever progress we can achieve.'

These are edited extracts of the interview Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak gave to The Straits Times and Business Times.

Singapore-Malaysia ties
How would you describe Singapore-Malaysia relations and how do you see this changing or improving under your leadership?

I'm very pleased to note that there's been a considerable warming up and improvement in terms of our bilateral ties. Certainly in terms of the sharp rhetoric between the two countries, I think that almost has disappeared. And what has appeared now is a much more constructive and cooperative bilateral relationship. And I hope that the relationship will continue to improve in the years to come and it is incumbent upon our two governments to not allow some difficult, or if you like, thorny, bilateral issues to impede and hamper whatever progress we can achieve in areas which are more doable and more achievable.

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