Malaysia has called for a regional mechanism for Southeast Asian countries to address human rights issues.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Asean had discussed creating such a mechanism for more than a decade and urged countries to seize the initiative.

"I would like to propose that ... a regional human rights mechanism be set up comprising states within the grouping which are ready," he said at the start of a meeting of regional rights groups working to establish such a mechanism yesterday.

"Within Asean itself, I believe the mechanism ... would be able to render technical assistance to the remaining members to facilitate their speedy entry as part of the arrangement," he added.

Syed Hamid is currently overseas and his speech was delivered by Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general S Thanarajasingam and released through Bernama.

Southeast Asian experts and the European Union in April urged the creation of a regional rights mechanism, saying it would help to address human rights in the face of Burma's continued detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Important milestone

Asean first mulled a regional rights mechanism in 1993, but progress has been slow, with rights issues remaining a sensitive topic for many of the grouping's members.

Officials have said a mechanism would give Asean a stronger collective voice in dealing with human rights issues.

Syed Hamid said a mechanism would help strengthen the rule of law and judicial systems and improve governance in Asean member nations.

"An important milestone is to face the need for such a mechanism head-up," he said.

Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.