It is refreshing to read an editorial (August 21) commenting on the folly of the so-called 'constructive engagement' policy adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
I am not too sure if Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a less authoritarian leader compared to the likes of Lee Kuan Yew and President Suharto, can stand up to the pressures of the business community and have a rethink about bringing the Burmese military dictators, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), into ASEAN.
ASEAN is very thin-skinned when it comes to human rights and political pluralism and cites ad nauseum its stand that the internal affairs of a country are sacrosanct.
Associating with and supporting a rogue regime like the SLORC only entrenches the dictators and hinders any political reforms the country is desperately in need of.
The rich natural resources of Burma have made it a target for economic colonialisation by our neighbours.
Over 30 years of misrule by the uncouth generals have frozen the country in a time warp, dragging it down to the least developed country status.