MALAYSIA SAYS SUU KYI'S SENTENCE 'REGRETTABLE VERDICT"

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has described the conviction of
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi Tuesday a "regrettable verdict" and
that it will consult its Asean partners on the development.

"Malaysia is deeply disappointed over the decision to place Aung San Suu Kyi
under house arrest for 18 months," Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a
statement.

"In light of the regrettable verdict, Malaysia will undertake immediate
consultation among Asean member countries to discuss further on this
development," he added.

Anifah reiterated Malaysia's call to the Myanmar government to release all
political detainees including Suu Kyi to enable them to participate in elections
next year.

"The Government of Myanmar should show its strong commitment towards
national reconciliation and democratisation process to implement its Road Map
for Democracy," he added.

Suu Kyi was Tuesday sentenced a further 18 months of detention on a charge
of violating her house arrest after an American man swam uninvited to her
lakeside home in May.

Malaysia and Myanmar are members of the 10-nation Asean, the Southeast Asian
grouping that also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
-- BERNAMA