NEW DELHI – Disgruntled Indian leadership reject meeting with Malaysianofficials over PM Mahathir Mohammad remarks.

India’s trade minister will not meet with his Malaysian counterpart inDavos next week because of his tight schedule, an Indian trade ministryofficial said on Sunday, as a spat simmers between the top buyer of palmoil and its biggest supplier, Reuters has reported.

India has repeatedly objected to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamadspeaking out against a new citizenship lawlinkwhichcritics say discriminate against Muslims.

Malaysia is the second biggest producer and exporter of palm oil andIndia’s restrictions on the refined variety of the commodity imposed lastweek have been seen as a retaliation for Mahathir’s criticism of New Delhi.

A Malaysian government spokesman said on Friday that trade ministers fromIndia and Malaysia could meet on the sidelines of the World EconomicForum’s annual meeting in Davos.