Malaysia's parliament has decided to postpone debate on a resolution calling on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to deny Burma the chairman's post in 2006.
Lawmakers had been expected to debate the proposal on Thursday. Supporters of the resolution are criticizing the delay, and suggest it was done under pressure from Burma's military rulers.
A growing number of lawmakers in ASEAN member states have introduced similar resolutions in their legislatures, calling on Burma to be denied the chairmanship if it fails to release democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.
The European Union and the United States are threatening to boycott ASEAN's regular meetings if Burma takes over the chairmanship.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.
