A UK-based campaign group will lodge a complaint against national oil company Petronas with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

The Free Burma Coalition intends to file a complaint over Petronas' involvement in the Yetagun gas and pipeline project in the Tenessarim region of Burma.

Premier Oil, the project operator in which Petronas holds 25 percent stake, is facing pressure from campaign groups and the UK government to withdraw from its operations in Burma.

"Petronas's investment in Burma is supporting a cruel and corrupt military dictatorship that, without foreign investors, would be forced to the negotiating table with the democratically elected government of Burma," said coalition spokesperson Rachel Goldwyn.

Goldwyn, who was detained in Burma last year for an independent political protest, added that "the human rights consequences of the pipeline projects are catastrophic, and Petronas should immediately withdraw".

Alleged abuses associated with the project include forced labour, military terrorism, rape and environmental destruction instigated by the Burmese military during clearing and construction in the pipeline area.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that Petronas had issued an official statement in response to concerns over its possible involvement in human rights abuses in Burma ("[#1] Investments will improve human rights in Burma, says Petronas[/#] ", June 7).

"In relation to the human rights agenda, it has been amply demonstrated that respect for human rights will inevitably increase, and entrenched habits get neutralised, whenever a country achieves good economic and social progress," said a Petronas spokesperson in a faxed statement.

If lodged, the Free Burma Coalition complaint would be the first to Suhakam challenging the human rights conduct of any Malaysian company abroad.