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Malaysia attacks Myanmar over lack of democracy

Malaysia yesterday issued a scathing criticism of Myanmar, accusing it of jeopardizing relations between Southeast Asia and other countries and making scant progress towards democracy.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said ASEAN had been trying to encourage reforms in the military-ruled country since it joined the group in 1997.

Member countries had earned international criticism for their attempts to engage with the Yangon regime but had little to show for their efforts, he said.

"Nine years have passed since Myanmar joined ASEAN and there has been very little progress achieved," Syed Hamid said in a speech read on his behalf at a gathering of Southeast Asian lawmakers focused on the Myanmar issue.

"The Myanmar government is supposed to convince not only ASEAN but also the international community that their plan is on track and is really going to happen. But we are not seeing it yet," he said.

In some of the most open criticisms to date from a Southeast Asian country, Syed Hamid said the Myanmar government had not kept its promises to embrace reforms, and had refused to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Syed Hamid laid bare the group's frustration in dealing with Myanmar, saying its relations with other countries were "held hostage" by Yangon.

"Even when ASEAN as a group try to have sideline meetings during APEC or Asia-Europe summits, it is always tricky to search for a special formula to include Myanmar in the meetings," he said.

"There is also that general feeling among ASEAN members that the maximum benefit to be gained by ASEAN through its cooperation with some of its dialogue partners is being held hostage by Myanmar," he said.

Syed Hamid said there was "real concern" from most of the grouping's members that Myanmar was undermining ASEAN's credibility and image.

"ASEAN has now reached a stage where it is not possible to defend its member when that member is not making an attempt to cooperate or help itself," he said, calling on regional powers China and India to exert their influence on Yangon.
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