MALAYSIA NON-COMMITTAL ON HRC VOTE, MIGHT STRIKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000835

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR UNDER SECRETARY BURNS FROM AMBASSADOR LAFLEUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA NON-COMMITTAL ON HRC VOTE, MIGHT STRIKE
DEAL WITH BELARUS

REF: STATE 63345

Classified By: Ambassador Christopher J. LaFleur for reasons 1.4 (b and
d).


1. (C) We engaged with the Malaysian Foreign Ministry at
senior and working levels again May 10 to convince Malaysia
to support Bosnia and Slovenia instead of Belarus in the
UNHRC vote. In addition, the Canadians delivered a
high-level demarche yesterday. The Ministry's Deputy
Secretary General Tan Seng Sung, Under Secretary for

SIPDIS
Multilateral Political Affairs Shahrul Ikram, and Under
Secretary for the Americas Ramlan Ibrahim all remained

SIPDIS
non-committal and non-communicative. Ambassador Tan, after
receiving the Canadian demarche, did not echo concerns over
Belarus' human rights record and instead recalled Malaysia's
vote against UNGA criticism of Belarus based on Malaysia's
policy of rejecting country-specific resolutions. Shahrul
(whom we tracked down in Vienna) and Ramlan provided no
substantive response.


2. (C) The Ministry's Principal Assistant Secretary for
Human Rights issues, Astanah Banu Shri Abdul Aziz (protect),
was more communicative, but not positive. Astanah believed
Malaysia would be interested in supporting Bosnia because it
is a fellow OIC member. However, this might be at the
expense of Slovenia, rather than Belarus. According to
Astanah, Malaysia has already approached Belarus about voting
arrangements to support Malaysian candidates in up coming
elections at the UNGA, and if those arrangements were agreed,
Malaysia would cast its vote for Belarus in the UNHRC
election. Astanah described this as the most likely outcome.


3. (SBU) The British High Commission informed us that they
had received demarche instructions on Belarus but have not
been able to deliver the points yet. The French Embassy told
us they do not have formal instructions.


4. (C) My assessment: Generally speaking, the Malaysians go
silent when they cannot provide a positive answer. Their
non-responsiveness with us and reported vote trading are
signs they will vote for Belarus. Malaysia tends to put
serious stock in OIC and NAM consensus. If the Department
knows of influential members in either group supportive of
Slovenia or opposed to Belarus, we would recommend working
through those countries to influence states like Malaysia,
and we could coordinate with their diplomats here. As far as
we know, only the Canadians and ourselves have weighed in
with the Malaysians so far. The Department may wish to
encourage European countries to execute supportive demarches
quickly.

LAFLEUR