Malaysia, which was pivotal in bringing Burma into the 10-member Asean group, today stepped up pressure on the junta to release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told a news conference that the credibility of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations had been damaged by Aung San Suu Kyi's detention, which he described as a set-back for the region.

"Myanmar (Burma) has to help Asean to gain back its credibility," he said, urging the military rulers to release her as soon as possible. "Not only the Myanmar is questioned. Asean is also questioned."

Implicitly recognising Malaysia's special responsibility on the issue, Syed Hamid noted that Kuala Lumpur had been instrumental in getting Burma into Asean in 1997, when the junta was already an international outcast.

"There were a lot of adverse comments in Malaysia's drive to allow the admission of Myanmar. We managed to get Myanmar's entry endorsed by all Asean countries," he said.

Meeting Suu Kyi

Syed Hamid said that as Malaysia was a "good friend" of Burma, he should be given an opportunity to meet Aung San Suu Kyi.

He had asked the country's Foreign Minister Win Aung to facilitate this when they met on the sidelines of an Asean meeting in Cambodia last week. A similar request last year was refused.

Syed Hamid said once Suu Kyi was freed both parties should return to the peace process so that Burma was not excluded from the international community.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been held under what the junta calls "protective custody" since she and her supporters were attacked by a government-backed mob on May 30.

Syed Hamid said Malaysia still believed that constructive engagement was the best policy to deal with Burma.

"Sanctions and isolation are not going to work. We believe in dialogue," he said.

This is the policy set by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, although he too has called for Suu Kyi's immediate release.

Japan, Burma's largest donor, announced Wednesday a suspension of new economic aid to the impoverished country, while the United States and the European Union have also beefed up punitive measures. -AFP