Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says Southeast Asian nations will not take a confrontational stance towards Burma.

Mr. Abdullah said President Bush raised the issue of the military-ruled country and its human rights record during a meeting with seven Southeast Asian leaders Friday at a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation-APEC forum.

The Malaysian leader told reporters after the APEC meeting in Busan, South Korea that it is not the style of ASEAN to be confrontational with Burma, and must continue to engage the country.

ASEAN Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong said the grouping had no choice but to bring Burma along in whatever way it could.

However, Malaysian lawmaker Zaid Ibrahim, who serves as chairman of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Burma Caucus, told VOA Friday the least ASEAN could do is ask Burma to leave the organization.