The government has been accused of kowtowing to Rangoon's military regime after a parliamentary motion to discuss human right abuses in Burma was shelved today.

"The Burmese regime has been pressuring Asean governments to stop (parliamentary) initiatives that call for Aung San Suu Kyi's release," said Debbie Stothard, coordinator of Bangkok-based Altsean - a regional organisation which campaigns for democracy in Burma.

"They (the generals) have been so desperate to stop the momentum built up by (regional) MPs (members of parliament) that they even threatened to pull out from Asean itself," she said.

"Now it looks as if the Burmese regime is interfering in the internal affairs of Malaysia - right down to the conduct of the Parliament."

The motion on Burma, which was moved by Zaid Ibrahim (BN - Kota Bahru) last month, would have been discussed this Thursday in Parliament.

However it was unexpectedly put off as there were 'more important government issues' that needed Parliament's attention, according to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Postponement questioned

The motion aims to discuss the continued detention of Burmese pro-democracy icon Suu Kyi, who would have been held under house arrest for two years come May 30.

It also seeks an endorsement from Parliament that Burma be denied from holding the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) until Rangoon releases all political detainees and moves towards restoring democracy in the country.

The 10-member Asean rotates its chair alphabetically and Burma - which has been renamed Myanmar by the military regime - is due to take over from Malaysia in June 2006.

Meanwhile, two Malaysian-based human rights organisations also expressed their disappointment with the parliamentary setback.

Penang-based rights group Aliran questioned the motives behind the dropping of the motion.

"It is strange that Parliament thinks they have more pressing issues (to address). This (Burma) is also a very important issue for Malaysia as it involves Asean leadership and its credibility," said Aliran committee member Anil Netto.

He also expressed his sympathy for Zaid and the Malaysian Caucus on Burma - a cross-party grouping of MPs which supports democracy in Burma - for failing in its bid to debate the issue in Parliament.

The parliamentary caucus, lead by Zaid, has been lobbying to put a stop to Burma taking over Asean leadership next year. Similar initiatives have been taken in neighbouring Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia.

This is the second time that a motion on Burma had been shelved. Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang's (DAP-Ipoh Timur) motion was rejected last year.

Political prisoners

Kuala Lumpur-based Amnesty Malaysia said it considered the Burma motion a crucial opportunity for parliamentarians to call for the release of all political prisoners held by Rangoon's generals.

Opposition National League for Democracy leader and pro-democracy icon Suu Kyi has been in detention for almost two years - her third stint in over a decade.

"Among the more than 1,300 political prisoners (in Burma) there are many prisoners of conscience who are elderly, infirm or who have been given such lengthy sentences that they are not scheduled release until when they are in their 70s or 80s," said Amnesty acting director Josef Roy Benedict

"The authorities continue to arrest and hold political activists incommunicado, deny them access to lawyers, to due process of law and continue to harass former political prisoners and activists."

Benedict encouraged Malaysian parliamentarians to continue calling on the junta to end restrictions on political activities in Burma and to stop the intimidation of opposition parties.