The government today said that Burma's democratic reforms will only be credible if opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi is released but dismissed a threat by the United States to boycott Asean meetings over Rangoon's policies.

The United States last week warned it would boycott meetings of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) if Rangoon failed to improve its human rights record when it assumes the group's chairmanship in

Washington, along with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Italy, have called for Aung San Suu Kyi's swift release after news that the Nobel laureate's house arrest had been extended for another year emerged last week at the Asean summit in Laos.

Syed Hamid admitted that Burma was a "source of difficulty" for Asean but said the US had no right to issue threats to Asean.

"We have problems but you can't just simply intimidate or threaten a whole regional organisation that has served well its people and has created peace and stability in Asia. You cannot just say: 'follow my law'," he told reporters on the sidelines of a regional forum here.

On track for reforms

Syed Hamid said new Burmese premier Soe Win had reaffirmed his government's commitment to democratic reforms at the Laos summit.

"They keep reiterating that they are moving on track with the democratisation route, they are moving with the road map. So we have to watch and see how things are. But I don't think we should be made subject to any threats from anywhere."

Syed Hamid said, however, that a meaningful national reconciliation process in Burma must include Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom.

"While we do not want to tell Myanmar (Burma) what it should do, I think they should relook at the roadmap so that it would have credibility and is believed by the international community. It should include finally the release of Aung San Suu Kyi."

Malaysia takes over the Asean chairmanship next year, before Burma's turn in 2006. The chair is rotated alphabetically each year among members Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Former Malaysian premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who played a key role in bringing Burma into Asean in 1997 despite international criticism over its human rights record, expressed disappointment over Rangoon's move to extend Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest.

"I regret that they have done so," said Mahathir, who had warned before his retirement in October last year that Yangon might have to be expelled if it continued to defy world pressure to release Aung San Suu Kyi.

Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand also voiced concern at the Laos summit over Burma's seemingly mixed signals about reform, but got no firm answers from Rangoon.