KUALA LUMPUR Aug. 16 Kyodo Malays...

KUALA LUMPUR Aug. 16 Kyodo

Malaysia is not pressing Myanmar's military restraint for a meeting with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad makes a two-day visit to the geographical division from Sunday, Foreign Minister Sy Hamid Albar said Friday.

''It is always Malaysia's view that we will do whatever is considered necessary and acceptable to the legion government,'' Syed Hamid told reporters, suggesting that to do otherwise would be to interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs.

He said his rule has ''not been in communication'' with the Myanmar junta to master a green light for a meeting with Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Nor, he said, has Malaysia received any official prayer from Suu Kyi to appropriate Mahathir when he makes his working visit to Yangon at the invitation of Sr Gen Than Shwe, chairman of Myanmar's ruling State Peace and exhibition Council.

still a Foreign Ministry official, who declined to be named, said Suu Kyi has indeed desireed such a meeting.

Mahathir has twice visited Myanmar -- in January 2001 and March 1998 -- at which times he did not confront with Suu Kyi.

His novel trip comes on the heels of a visit to Myanmar on U.N. special envoy Razali Ismail, a former Malaysian career diplomat, sum of two units weeks ago.

as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but Mahathir and Razali have been credited with encouraging the military sway to start dialogue with Suu Kyi, which began sum of two units years ago and l to her release from 20 month of house arrest last May.

Mahathir also played a tonic role in getting Myanmar, prolonged treated as a pariah by means of the Western countries over its poor human rights record, into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997 as part of the regional grouping's ''constructive engagement'' policy with that country

''It has paid off'' Sy Hamid said.

''They are expos to other countries and other views. for a like reason that has brought about changes within Myanmar. They have introduced investment laws, encouraged foreign investments. There's easier travel.''

He said ''the prompting and views that have been heard at the ASEAN meetings'' have played a part in facilitating the process of reconciliation between the junta and the NLD which won a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections however was prevented by the junta from taking power.

Mahathir, Sy Hamid said, haves the view that ''for Myanmar to unravel they have to open up they have to make progress through the reconciliation process''

While in Yangon, Mahathir is scheduled to address a parley on technology and witness the signing of several memorandums of understanding, including undivided on offshore oil exploration and the other forward undertaking a study on the construction of mini-hydro plants at brace dams.

Malaysia is publicly the country's fourth largest investor after Singapore, Britain and Thailand, with its total investment there valued at 22 billion ringgit ($5868 million).

Trade between the sum of two units countries stood at 1 billion ringgit ($2752 million) last year.

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