Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Asean's statement demanding Burma to expedite its democracy reform has breached the body's non-interference policy.

"In a way, it is an interference in Burma's affairs but it depends on how the country views it.

"In a way too, it is breaching the non-interference policy but I suppose the (Asean) leaders feel they should interfere," he said when asked to comment on the statement issued by Asean leaders yesterday.

The former prime minister was met after delivering a lecture at a luncheon organised by the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asked whether he would be interested to be part of a Asean delegation to visit Burma on the reform agenda, Mahathir laughed and replied, "No, I'm not going to be any part of anything."

Tangible results wanted

At the end of the first day of the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, the body issued a statement saying it wants to see "tangible" results from Burma's promised democratic reforms.

It also called for the release of political detainee, but fell short of mentioning pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who is under house arrest.

In an immediate response, Rangoon said it would invite Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar in his capacity as Asean standing committee chief to explain its roadmap to democracy.

On another development, Mahathir commented that there was nothing special about the signing of a friendship treaty between Australia and Asean.

"It's good to have a friendship treaty, we have friendship treaties with many countries. It's the same lah, whether it is Australia or other countries, there's nothing very special about it.

"The only thing very special now is that Australia would not have any pre-emptive strike against us," he added on a sarcastic note.