He cited the issue of water supply from Malaysia to Singapore and said Singapore should not keep bringing up sensitive issues if it valued its ties with Malaysia.

The Malaysian Chinese-language daily Nanyang Siang Pau yesterday quoted him as saying: "Malaysia has never threatened Singapore with turning off the supply of water or bargained over prices.

"Everything is done according to the existing agreement."

Datuk Low, who is in charge of tourism in Johor, said that Singapore should try to reach an agreement with Malaysia on outstanding problems instead of causing disputes.

Responding to Datuk Low's suggestion to ban Mr Lee's book, Deputy Home Minister Ong Ka Ting said that his ministry would first study the contents of the book and consider factors such as whether it would affect public security, racial harmony and stability in Malaysia.

He told Nanyang Siang Pau that Mr Lee's comments on the Malaysian government and leaders of political parties were his personal views.

"He has the right to publish his own memoirs," he said.