Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ordered * [correction] a motion to debate Burma's alleged human rights abuses to be withdrawn in the Dewan Rakyat, following the military junta's protest that this was an attempt to 'undermine' the country.

Minister in Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said this while winding up on the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) (Amendment) Bill 2005 today.

He said the government did not want to be involved directly or indirectly in the motion, which could be seen as interfering in the internal affairs of Burma.

However, he said MPs would be allowed to raise and discuss the issue when debating any bill.

Zaid Ibrahim (BN-Kota Bahru), who had submitted the motion last month, was not pleased with this turn of events. He heads the bi-partisan parliamentary caucus on Burma.

He argued that the successful motion to debate the Tak Bai incident in southern Thailand as a situation that could also be deemed to be 'interference', if the same logic is applied.

On Oct 25 last year, 75 Thai Muslims died of suffocation when they were packed into army trucks during an operation in southern Thailand. This drew international condemnation and outrage, including from Malaysian MPs.

Unexpectedly put off

The motion on Burma had been scheduled to be debated tomorrow. However, it was unexpectedly put off on grounds that "more important government issues" needed Parliament's attention.

Human rights groups have accused the government of ' kowtowing ' to the Burmese generals.

Defending the government's stand, Nazri said the motion to debate the Tak Bai issue did not question the validity of a government and that Tak Bai is located close to the Malaysian border.

"The Tak Bai issue had a direct impact on us. That was why it was debated. We didn't question the validity of the Thai government," he said.

Responding to a question from Jimmy Donald (BN-Sri Aman), Nazri said the government has to accept the fact that it has to deal with the military junta.

"We all know that the Burmese government might not be chosen by its people. But like it or not, we have to deal with them," he said.

*Correction: It has been brought to our attention - and confirmed by the Hansard - that the prime minister did not order for the motion on Burma to be withdrawn as reported above.

The premier had however instructed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz to withdraw from the debate since his participation as a minister may portray that the government was backing the motion.

Mohd Nazri said the government was worried that this could seen by Rangoon as an attempt by the Malaysian government to undermine the Burmese regime.

The minister also told the House that the prime minister's position on this matter was that members of parliament were free to debate the matter. However, the matter was not debated as the parliamentary sitting was abruptly cut short due to a leak in the roof caused by a heavy downpour .

We apologise for the error.