Mahathir to make business visit to Myanmar, no talks with Suu Kyi ( AFP ) August 16, 2002


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Mahathir to make business visit to Myanmar, no talks with Suu Kyi

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 (AFP)

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad leaves Sunday on a high-profile business trip to Myanmar but is unlikely to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a minister said Friday.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Mahathir would push Yangon's military junta to accelerate the national reconciliation process in talks with Senior General Than Shwe during his two-day visit there.But no plans have been made to meet Suu Kyi, he said, adding that any such meeting must be arranged by the junta and Malaysia would leave it to UN special envoy to Myanmar, Razali Ismail, to follow-up.

"At present, there is no such plan. Of course we follow very closely on the work that is done by Razali. We are very happy with the development in Myanmar, " he told a news conference."We have not received any request officially by Aung San Suu Kyi to see the prime minister but... we will only do whatever is considered necessary and acceptable to the host government."

He also declined to comment on the possibility of Suu Kyi visiting Malaysia following reports that she plans to tour Southeast Asian nations, saying this was up to the junta to decide.

Malaysia practises what it calls a policy of constructive engagement with Myanmar, which joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997 with Kuala Lumpur's sponsorship.

Syed Hamid said ASEAN's membership has led to "constructive changes" in Myanmar, with new laws encouraging investment in the country, easier travel and the move towards national reconciliation.

"It has paid off, this constructive engagement and the fact that we've brought them into the ASEAN fraternity. Some considered the development slow but there has definitely been positive changes. Isolation is not the answer," he added.

To bring Myanmar closer to democracy, Syed Hamid said Malaysia believed in continued encouragement and investment in the country because "economic development changes a lot of attitude and perception about things."

He said Mahathir's trip was to reciprocrate Senior General Than Shwe's visit to Kuala Lumpur in September last year and would focus on trade and investment, with plans to sign two memorandums of understanding (MoU).The two MoUs are an offshore oil exploration contract between national oil firm Petronas and Myanmar's Energy Ministry, and a study to construct mini-hydro plants at the Nga Moe Yeik and Tabuhla dams between Tepat Teknik Sdn. Bhd. and Myanmar's Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Syed Hamid said another three tentative MoU's on steel exports, telecommunications and development of Yangon were also on the cards but awaiting approval from the Myanmar parties.

The premier will be accompanied by a delegation of 300 officials and businessmen, including the foreign minister, Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz and Energy Minister Leo Moggie.Officials said Mahathir would hold talks with Than Shwe shortly after his arrival in Yangon on Sunday evening, before being hosted to a dinner by the general.

On Monday, he will address the Malaysia-Myanmar Technology Conference and witness the signing of the MoUs. The premier will also witness the installation of a new high-tech passport screening system exported from Malaysia.

Malaysia is the fourth largest investor in Myanmar after Singapore, Britain and Thailand, with total investments of 2.23 billion ringgit (587 million dollars) so far.Bilateral trade amounted to 1.05 billion ringgit, tilted in Malaysia's favour.

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