Numerous Malaysian activists have condemned Malaysia's continued diplomatic niceties towards Burma despite a violent crackdown against dissidents by the Burmese military junta.

Activist groups are fuming over Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar announcement yesterday that Malaysia would not impose any form of sanctions on Burma.

According to the Star today, Syed Hamid said the crackdown in Burma was an "internal problem" and that Malaysia position was "not to interfere".

On the contrary, many Western countries condemned the violence in Burma and have vowed to come down hard on the military government, primarily through economic sanctions.

PKR information chief Tian Chua today condemned Syed Hamid's statement and said that Malaysia was taking an unprincipled stand.

"Syed Hamid is basically giving the junta the green light to continue their oppressive ways," said Tian Chua in a press conference at the party headquarters today.

The Petronas factor

Activists also pointed out that the fact that Malaysia had numerous business interest in the country could explain the soft approach towards Burma on the violence.

Malaysia's biggest company operating in Burma is quite possibly state-owned oil and gas giant Petronas which has had major deals with the junta since 1997.

"These investment enrich the junta and prolong their helm. Worse still, they use such money to buy weapons deployed against their own citizens," said DAP Parliamentarian Teresa Kok when contacted.

Petronas' heavy investment there, said Tian Chua, would undermine Petronas' standing in the international community and in Burma due to the company's role in "backing up the junta".

"At the very least, Syed Hamid must say clearly that if there is any further violence, Malaysia would review its investment (particularly Petronas)," he added.

Asean indifference?

Meanwhile, two influential news organisations have condemned the overwhelming collective silence of Asean nations over the violence in Burma.

Singapore-based Channel News Asia in a column today described Asean as Burma's "only hope" while Indonesian daily Jakarta Post published a articled titled "Shame on Asean".

Social activist and political economist Charles Santiago pointed out that like Malaysia's Petronas, almost all other Asean countries have a vested interest in Burma which explained their soft position on the matter.

"The blood of innocent Burmese are on Asean hands," he told malaysiakini.

According to Santiago, Asean had shown that it was unable to rein in on Burma on basic issues such as democracy and human rights since the country entry into the regional body in 1997.

"The whole point of getting Burma on board is to join the family of nations and (compel them) to subscribe to international standards," he said.

Meanwhile, the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Burma Caucus is urging Asean nations to push for immediate reforms at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"Obviously Asean has to move in very quickly and has to at least put a collective voice for once and remind the regime not to do anything that will cause harm to the people," said caucus head Zaid Ibrahim, reported Voice of America online edition.

On the home front, Burmese and Malaysian activist are expected to hold a protest in front of the Burmese Embassy near Jalan Ampang tomorrow morning.