The Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma plans to invite exiled leaders of Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD) to Malaysia in October to discuss the struggle for democracy in their homeland.

A consensus on the invitation was reached during a lunch meeting between Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) at the Parliament house today.

The idea of the invitation was mooted by Elizabeth Wong, the executive director of the Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia, an NGO with bases in both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

"It is a good idea, we can organise such a meeting and invite other members of parliament from Asean countries to come along," said Nazri, who is one of the 13-committee members of the Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma.

According to Wong, the exiled NLD leaders had attended a regional strategy meeting in Thailand recently and had expressed hope that the Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma would organise the meeting.

"The participants are very excited and inspirational over this positive move in Malaysia to set up this caucus. In fact, the Thai MPs are also thinking of forming a similar structure," she told the caucus members during today's lunch meeting..

Most of the exiled NLD leaders currently live in Thailand, Australia and United States

'Strong message'

The formation of the Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma comes after the visit of Burmese prime minister Khin Nyunt to Malaysia early this month, his first stop on a Southeast Asian tour.

Meanwhile, the caucus's deputy secretary, Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam), told malaysiakini that a total of 44 MPs, including the 13-committee members, have signed up for the caucus to date.

The Malaysian parliament comprises 219 parliamentarians in the lower house and 70 senators in the upper house.

Among those present at the lunch meeting were Women and Workers' Independent Media Training Centre coordinator Lee Siow Hwa, Labour Resources Centre coordinator Saharuddin Adnan and Burmese activist Ko Minn Kyaw Minn.

Lee said the planned October meet would send a strong message to Burma's ruling military junta that while Malaysia is keen to enhance bilateral relations, it nevertheless is serious about the progress of democratic reform in Burma.

Minn Kyaw briefed the caucus members on the plight of Burmese refugees and asylums seekers currently in Malaysia. The 26-year-old journalist was in the news recently following his abduction and assault by several people during Khin Nyunt's state visit.

The caucus' deputy chief Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Keadilan-Permatang Pauh) said the caucus would look further into the situation of Burmese refugees and asylum seekers in the country.

She added that the caucus would also write to Burma's military junta to demand to know the condition of the country's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been under house arrest since last year.

Political detainees

The Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma has called for the 'immediate and unconditional' release of Suu Kyi and also the release of all political detainees including those elected to parliament in the last general election in Burma. It also demands that free and fair elections be allowed in the country.

The caucus also plans to appeal to the Burmese government - through United Nations special envoy Razali Ismail - to include the NLD in constitutional talks and to hand over power to legitimately-elected lawmakers.

Razali, a former Malaysian diplomat, was the catalyst for landmark talks between the junta and Suu Kyi which began in October 2000 but collapsed last year.

Suu Kyi's NLD won the Burmese general election in 1990 but was never allowed to rule by the junta which usurped power.