Malaysia Foreign Minister's Trip to Burma Stalls again

7 Mar (AP) - Malaysia's foreign minister said Tuesday his planned trip to Burma to monitor the progress of democracy has stalled again because of stonewalling by the country's military rulers.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told reporters that the junta has failed to respond to his request to let him visit in the middle of this month, further delaying a trip that was to have taken place in January.

"I have given them some dates for the middle of this month but they have not come back to us. We take it that they will not be able to receive us on those dates," Syed Hamid said.

"We hope they will open up," he said. Syed Hamid has also said he wants to meet with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest. The junta refuses to let any outsider see her.

Syed Hamid expressed hope that Burma will let him visit before an Asean foreign ministers' retreat in Bali, Indonesia April 17-18.

"I hope to be able to call Myanmar's [ Burma's] foreign minister to know exactly what we should do now. I think it will be very sad if by April when we have our meeting we still have no development," Syed Hamid said.

He sent an envoy to Burma two weeks ago to discuss the program and agenda for the proposed visit. But, Syed Hamid said, the authorities have still not said whether he can meet with opposition figures including Suu Kyi.