Thailand will not be a part of a Malaysia-led campaign to suspend Burma from chairing Asean next year but would instead continue engaging its military-ruled neighbour, the Thai foreign minister said today.

Newly installed top diplomat Kantathi Supamongkhon expressed optimism that Rangoon would clean up its human rights act before it takes over the rotating presidency of the 10-nation bloc.

Malaysian MPs are planning to table a motion calling on Burma to release democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and speed up political reforms. Otherwise they would press for Burma to be passed over as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"Thailand will not get involved in Malaysia's campaign," Kantathi told reporters. "We have to be very careful, we cannot jump to conclusions."

Heed the signal

Analysts have said it was still too early to tell if Malaysia's move could snowball sufficiently to force Burma to appease its critics.

Kantathi said he expected Rangoon to be aware of the region's wishes for democratisation in the country and that taking steps to convince fellow members of progress was important.

"Myanmar (Burma) must heed other countries' signals," he said. "Thailand wants to see positive change in Myanmar, and because Myanmar will play a key role in Asean next year thus it will encourage Myanmar for positive change."

Malaysia takes over the chair at a summit in Kuala Lumpur in June and Burma's turn is due in 2006.

Burma's membership of the grouping since 1997 has been a growing irritant in relations between Asean and western countries, including the United States.

Former US ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke warned in Bangkok on Monday that the US and other countries might boycott the 2006 summit and two major meetings immediately afterwards if they are held in Rangoon as scheduled.

Asean includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.