Malaysia has proposed an American Idol-style contest for Southeast Asian countries, saying a crooning competition would help young people bond across the region, a report said today.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said an Asean Idol contest would draw on the popularity of the Malaysian spinoffs of international music shows like American Idol and Akademi Fantasia.

"Programmes that have appeal like Akademi Fantasia and Malaysian Idol will definitely generate interest from the young," Syed Hamid was quoted as telling the New Straits Times.

Feel for Asean early

"This will also make it easier for them to work together for Asean because they would from an early age be made to feel as a part of the association," he said.

The minister has been urging a closer ties between Southeast Asian citizens since assuming the Asean chairmanship a year ago.

And he is no stranger to song-making himself.

The minister has said he writes poems to relax, one of which was set to music and served as the theme song - called "Asean, Our Way" - for the group's leadership summit in December.