KL to up military ties with Myanmar

KL to up military ties with Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia is considering boosting military ties with Myanmar, possibly including joint exercises, the chief of the Malaysian armed forces said on Friday.

The move is likely to raise international controversy. Myanmar's military, which has ruled the country since 1962, is widely criticized for suppressing democracy and committing human- rights abuses against rebellious ethnic minorities.

Gen. Zahidi Zainuddin received Myanmar air force chief Lt. Gen. Kyaw Than and was quoted by the Malaysian news agency Bernama as saying talks were under way to enhance ties between the air forces and armies of both countries.

Malaysia has long been a defender of Myanmar, also known as Burma, and was instrumental in bringing the country into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1997. Malaysia has argued that sanctions imposed by many countries on Myanmar are counter-productive and make change harder.