Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1166
2007-07-18 09:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
MALAYSIA ENCOURAGED BY U.S. OIC ENVOY DECISION;
how-toVZCZCXRO5771 PP RUEHBC RUEHCHI RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHNH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHKL #1166/01 1990909 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 180909Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9667 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1024
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001166
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2027
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPKO MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA ENCOURAGED BY U.S. OIC ENVOY DECISION;
SUPPORTS FATAH; RELUCTANT TO NAME IRAQ ENVOY
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1137 - DPM ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING
B. KUALA LUMPUR 467 - OIC DIPLOMAT ON HAMAS VISIT
C. KUALA LUMPUR 419 - POSSIBLE FM VISIT TO BAGHDAD
D. KUALA LUMPUR 417 - HAMAS VISIT
E. KUALA LUMPUR 382 - MALAYSIA UNCHANGED ON IRAN
F. KUALA LUMPUR 381 - PAKISTAN INITIATIVE
G. 06 KUALA LUMPUR 2271 - MALAYSIA'S OIC ROLE
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001166
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2027
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPKO MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA ENCOURAGED BY U.S. OIC ENVOY DECISION;
SUPPORTS FATAH; RELUCTANT TO NAME IRAQ ENVOY
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1137 - DPM ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING
B. KUALA LUMPUR 467 - OIC DIPLOMAT ON HAMAS VISIT
C. KUALA LUMPUR 419 - POSSIBLE FM VISIT TO BAGHDAD
D. KUALA LUMPUR 417 - HAMAS VISIT
E. KUALA LUMPUR 382 - MALAYSIA UNCHANGED ON IRAN
F. KUALA LUMPUR 381 - PAKISTAN INITIATIVE
G. 06 KUALA LUMPUR 2271 - MALAYSIA'S OIC ROLE
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Malaysia's senior OIC diplomat Ibrahim Abdullah,
speaking with us on July 13, reiterated that Malaysia
welcomed the U.S. decision to appoint a special envoy to the
OIC, and he encouraged the envoy to visit Malaysia as the OIC
chair. The OIC Secretary General asked Malaysia to identify
an Iraq special envoy, but no one in Malaysia wanted the job.
Malaysia continues to quietly support Fatah over Hamas,
while viewing Palestinian unity as essential to peace. End
Summary.
Malaysia Welcomes Future U.S. Envoy to OIC
--------------
2. (C) On July 13, Polchief called on Ambassador Ibrahim
Abdullah, Malaysia's leading diplomat supporting Prime
Minister Abdullah Badawi's role as Chairman of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),and discussed
Muslim world issues. Polchief noted that President Bush had
written to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi concerning the
President's intention to name a special envoy to the OIC.
Reiterating Malaysia's earlier public remarks, Ibrahim stated
that Malaysia viewed this decision as very positive and
welcome. He asked if the special envoy would visit Malaysia,
given Malaysia's OIC chairmanship role. Such a stop would
highlight U.S. understanding that the Muslim world is not
confined to the Middle East. In addition, Malaysia presents
a good example of a successful, modern Muslim country,
Ibrahim commented. Polchief said he would share Ibrahim's
informal comments with Washington.
No Takers for OIC's Iraq Job
--------------
3. (C) Ibrahim explained that the OIC Secretary General had
asked Malaysia to assign a senior official to act as the OIC
special envoy to Iraq. This request reflected Malaysia's
position as OIC chair, but also its distance from the various
factions fighting in Iraq. Malaysia had not identified any
candidates, however, because "no one wants to go to Iraq"
given the difficult security situation. Ibrahim left the
impression that no Malaysian would take up this OIC task.
(Note: Earlier in the year, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid had
planned a visit to Baghdad, which he then canceled for
security reasons, ref C. End Note.)
Malaysia Backs Abbas and Fatah
--------------
4. (C) On Palestine, Malaysia continued to quietly favor
Fatah over Hamas, and Malaysia acknowledged Abbas' right to
dissolve the Palestinian government and form another.
Because Malaysia recognized Abbas as the legitimate leader,
and did not support Hamas' militant agenda, Malaysia earlier
had been careful to provide its U.S. $16 million in aid
direct to Abbas, rather than to Hamas-controlled Palestinian
entities. The Malaysian government also had to view Hamas
through the prism of domestic politics, given that the
opposition Islamist party PAS had aligned itself with Hamas.
Malaysia had received the visit of Hamas official Khalid
Meshaal in March in order to encourage moves to forge a
Palestinian unity government. The GOM, however, turned off a
possible visit by senior Hamas leaders in late June/early
July in part because the government believed their mission
would play into the hands of PAS. While noting Malaysia's
backing of Fatah, Ibrahim emphasized that Palestinian unity
remained essential in order to reach a peace agreement with
Israel.
Peacekeeping in Sudan, as well as Lebanon
--------------
5. (C) Ibrahim noted Malaysia's interest in providing
KUALA LUMP 00001166 002 OF 002
peacekeepers for a UN mission in Sudan, if the UN could
clarify the terms of its request, particularly funding (ref
A). This interest was in line with PM Abdullah's desire for
OIC countries to get more involved in addressing the Darfur
crisis and assisting Sudan. Ibrahim also said Malaysia
wished to extend the deployment of its troops in Lebanon
under UNIFIL.
LAFLEUR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2027
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPKO MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA ENCOURAGED BY U.S. OIC ENVOY DECISION;
SUPPORTS FATAH; RELUCTANT TO NAME IRAQ ENVOY
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1137 - DPM ON DARFUR PEACEKEEPING
B. KUALA LUMPUR 467 - OIC DIPLOMAT ON HAMAS VISIT
C. KUALA LUMPUR 419 - POSSIBLE FM VISIT TO BAGHDAD
D. KUALA LUMPUR 417 - HAMAS VISIT
E. KUALA LUMPUR 382 - MALAYSIA UNCHANGED ON IRAN
F. KUALA LUMPUR 381 - PAKISTAN INITIATIVE
G. 06 KUALA LUMPUR 2271 - MALAYSIA'S OIC ROLE
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Malaysia's senior OIC diplomat Ibrahim Abdullah,
speaking with us on July 13, reiterated that Malaysia
welcomed the U.S. decision to appoint a special envoy to the
OIC, and he encouraged the envoy to visit Malaysia as the OIC
chair. The OIC Secretary General asked Malaysia to identify
an Iraq special envoy, but no one in Malaysia wanted the job.
Malaysia continues to quietly support Fatah over Hamas,
while viewing Palestinian unity as essential to peace. End
Summary.
Malaysia Welcomes Future U.S. Envoy to OIC
--------------
2. (C) On July 13, Polchief called on Ambassador Ibrahim
Abdullah, Malaysia's leading diplomat supporting Prime
Minister Abdullah Badawi's role as Chairman of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),and discussed
Muslim world issues. Polchief noted that President Bush had
written to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi concerning the
President's intention to name a special envoy to the OIC.
Reiterating Malaysia's earlier public remarks, Ibrahim stated
that Malaysia viewed this decision as very positive and
welcome. He asked if the special envoy would visit Malaysia,
given Malaysia's OIC chairmanship role. Such a stop would
highlight U.S. understanding that the Muslim world is not
confined to the Middle East. In addition, Malaysia presents
a good example of a successful, modern Muslim country,
Ibrahim commented. Polchief said he would share Ibrahim's
informal comments with Washington.
No Takers for OIC's Iraq Job
--------------
3. (C) Ibrahim explained that the OIC Secretary General had
asked Malaysia to assign a senior official to act as the OIC
special envoy to Iraq. This request reflected Malaysia's
position as OIC chair, but also its distance from the various
factions fighting in Iraq. Malaysia had not identified any
candidates, however, because "no one wants to go to Iraq"
given the difficult security situation. Ibrahim left the
impression that no Malaysian would take up this OIC task.
(Note: Earlier in the year, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid had
planned a visit to Baghdad, which he then canceled for
security reasons, ref C. End Note.)
Malaysia Backs Abbas and Fatah
--------------
4. (C) On Palestine, Malaysia continued to quietly favor
Fatah over Hamas, and Malaysia acknowledged Abbas' right to
dissolve the Palestinian government and form another.
Because Malaysia recognized Abbas as the legitimate leader,
and did not support Hamas' militant agenda, Malaysia earlier
had been careful to provide its U.S. $16 million in aid
direct to Abbas, rather than to Hamas-controlled Palestinian
entities. The Malaysian government also had to view Hamas
through the prism of domestic politics, given that the
opposition Islamist party PAS had aligned itself with Hamas.
Malaysia had received the visit of Hamas official Khalid
Meshaal in March in order to encourage moves to forge a
Palestinian unity government. The GOM, however, turned off a
possible visit by senior Hamas leaders in late June/early
July in part because the government believed their mission
would play into the hands of PAS. While noting Malaysia's
backing of Fatah, Ibrahim emphasized that Palestinian unity
remained essential in order to reach a peace agreement with
Israel.
Peacekeeping in Sudan, as well as Lebanon
--------------
5. (C) Ibrahim noted Malaysia's interest in providing
KUALA LUMP 00001166 002 OF 002
peacekeepers for a UN mission in Sudan, if the UN could
clarify the terms of its request, particularly funding (ref
A). This interest was in line with PM Abdullah's desire for
OIC countries to get more involved in addressing the Darfur
crisis and assisting Sudan. Ibrahim also said Malaysia
wished to extend the deployment of its troops in Lebanon
under UNIFIL.
LAFLEUR