MALAYSIAN ELECTIONS -- INDONESIAN REACTION MUTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000513 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS. EAP/RSP, EAP/PD NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO ID MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIAN ELECTIONS -- INDONESIAN REACTION MUTED BUT HOPEFUL Classified By: Pol/C Joseph Legend Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In the aftermath of Malaysia's elections, the GOI has publicly underscored that relations will remain stable and strong. Indonesian media and observers have been less restrained, however, hailing the results as an important step in Malaysia becoming a "real democracy." Indonesia maintains a very complex relationship with Malaysia and will continue to watch the situation closely. END SUMMARY GOI REACTION IS MUTED ¶2. (U) In relatively muted fashion, Indonesian officials have commented publicly on Malaysia's weekend election. In brief remarks to reporters, Presidential Spokesman Dino Djalal said President Yudhoyono expected Indonesia-Malaysia relations to remain stable, despite unprecedented electoral gains by opposition parties in Malaysia. He described Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi as long-time friends who would continue to work together. ¶3. (C) Gudadi Sasongko, Deputy Director for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DEPLU), told poloff that DEPLU had not yet issued any official statement on the Malaysian elections. DEPLU had, however, drafted formal congratulatory messages from Foreign Minister Wirajuda to PM Abdullah and FM Hamid. FM Wirajuda, currently on a four-nation trip with President Yudhoyono, might comment on the election during his travels, according to Sasongko. ¶4. (C) Giving what he stressed were his personal views, Sasongko said he welcomed the Malaysian opposition's electoral gains. As a democracy, Indonesia hoped that its northern neighbor would become more democratic. The ruling party's losses were a sign that Malaysia was indeed becoming more free, according to Sasongko. OBSERVERS ARE UPBEAT ¶5. (U) The Indonesian media had no inhibitions about commenting on Malaysia's election. An editorial in the leading Bahasa Indonesia language daily newspaper "Kompas" lauded the election results as a sign that Malaysia was becoming a "true democracy" that "respects difference and upholds tolerance." Indonesians also took some credit for developments in the neighboring country. Long-time Indonesian commentator and former envoy Des Alwi (who maintains close links with Malaysia) commented in the "Jakarta Post" that Malaysia had finally learned from Indonesia's own experience of reform and democratization. ¶6. (U) Legislators got into the act too. The "Jakarta Post" quoted Abdillah Toha, a member of parliament's (DPR) Commission I responsible for foreign affairs and defense, as saying he hoped the election would lead to a more "independent" Malaysian legislature. Current Malaysian parliamentarians, he claimed, "just did what the government said." ¶7. (C) The Indonesian human rights community and other observers also welcomed the Malaysian election results. Human rights activist Tri Agus told Dep/Pol/C that some of the newly-elected parliamentarians from Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat were well connected to the human rights community in Indonesia. He said the election would create a better environment for human rights throughout the region. ¶8. (C) Yenny Wahid, a party leader and daughter of former president Wahid (a noted liberal),told Pol/C on March 11 that "Indonesia has moved toward democracy and tolerance in the past ten years and it is high time that Malaysia did, too." Commenting on Anwar Ibrahim, she stated: "The treatment accorded Anwar was terrible. It is good for ASEAN that he is back." INDONESIA WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR JAKARTA 00000513 002 OF 002 ¶9. (C) Indonesia maintains a very complex relationship with Malaysia. While the two maintain close trade ties and get along well in ASEAN, many Indonesians feel that its migrant laborers are mistreated and that Malaysians look down on Indonesia, a perspective that sometimes sparks demonstrations here. Liberally-inclined Indonesians involved in civil society, in particular, seem to be very enthused by the election results. As the situation unfolds, Indonesians will likely continue to monitor and try to read the tea leaves on where their wealthy neighbor is headed. HUME