Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR185
2008-03-14 13:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

POST-ELECTION SCENE REMAINS VOLATILE, PER MARCH 14

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KISL ASEC MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5201
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0185/01 0741311
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 141311Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0710
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000185 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KISL ASEC MY
SUBJECT: POST-ELECTION SCENE REMAINS VOLATILE, PER MARCH 14
EVENTS

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 178 - UMNO STOKES MALAY FEARS


B. KUALA LUMPUR 160 - MALAYSIA'S ELECTION SHOCK

Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000185

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KISL ASEC MY
SUBJECT: POST-ELECTION SCENE REMAINS VOLATILE, PER MARCH 14
EVENTS

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 178 - UMNO STOKES MALAY FEARS


B. KUALA LUMPUR 160 - MALAYSIA'S ELECTION SHOCK

Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Events on March 14 demonstrated that Malaysia's
post-election political scene remains volatile, while the
question of Abdullah's longevity in office remains far from
settled. Abdullah's UMNO party staged a short-lived
low-octane protest in opposition-held Penang on March 14 in
support of Malay rights, as the government-controlled Malay
media continued attacks against the Chinese-led Democratic
Action Party (DAP). The go-ahead for the protest came from
UMNO national leaders, according to an Embassy source. The
ruler of Perlis state reportedly swore in a candidate of his
own choice as Chief Minister, turning down the candidate
endorsed by PM Abdullah. The states of Terengganu and Perak
have not yet settled on new state governments, though both
could be resolved in the next few days. Elected UMNO MP
Mukhriz Mahathir on March 14 explicitly called on PM Abdullah
to resign, echoing calls by his father, former Malaysian
Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Former UMNO leader Zaid
Ibrahim called on politicians on all sides to stop fueling
racial tensions. Privately, Zaid told us UMNO has no model
for positive reform and would likely fall-back on harsher
Malay nationalism, which would alienate UMNO's non-Malay
partners. He also said UMNO elder statesman Tengku Razaleigh
had met with Abdullah and could play a role helping UMNO move
forward. End Summary.

Short-Lived Protest by UMNO in Penang
--------------


2. (SBU) Following days of government-controlled media
attacks against Penang Democratic Action Party (DAP) Chief
Minister Lim Guan Eng and his statement of doing away with
Malay preferences under New Economic Policy (NEP),United
Malays National Organization (UMNO) supporters staged a brief
protest in Penang's capital of Georgetown. According to

press sources, between 500 to 1,000 UMNO members headed by
Penang UMNO State Secretary Azhar Ibrahim (Penang UMNO State
Chief is PM Abdullah) gathered in front of the state
government office chanting slogans such as "Don't sideline
the Malays," "Do not abolish the NEP," and "(opposition
leader) Anwar Ibrahim is a traitor." After only 15 minutes
or so, the police gave orders to disperse and the crowd
quickly and peacefully complied. The Inspector General of
Police Musa Hassan earlier warned people not to participate
in the illegal assembly. He stated that the widely
circulated short message service (SMS) calling for a
gathering at the building after Friday prayers was illegal
and those who defy will be arrested for participating in an
illegal assembly. According to press sources, however, there
were no arrests.


3. (C) An Embassy contact told us that he learned of the
planned protest from a very early morning call from a Defense
Ministry official, who warned our contact that national-level
UMNO officials had decided to proceed with a protest in
Penang. Reports of the planned demonstration caused concern
among the public against the backdrop of public UMNO calls to
defend Malay rights and the memory of 1969 race riots.


4. (SBU) A handful of UMNO supporters attempted to stage a
protest on March 14 against the incoming opposition
government in Selangor state, which surrounds Kuala Lumpur.
The event attracted very few people and went almost unnoticed.

Perlis Ruler Goes Against PM Abdullah's Choice
-------------- -


5. (SBU) The ruler (Raja) of Perlis state reportedly has
gone against the wishes of Prime Minister Abdullah and
refused to reappoint Shahidan Kassim as Perlis Chief
Minister. Instead, the Raja on March 14 appointed Mohammed
Isa Sabu, another UMNO state assemblyman. The Raja acted
under the Perlis state constitution, which empowers him to
appoint the person he believes has the confidence of the
majority of the state assembly. The controversy led UMNO
supporters of Shaidan members from Perlis to stage two small
protests on March 14 in Kuala Lumpur and the administrative
capital of Putrajaya, respectively. (Note: Under former
Prime Minister Mahathir, it was unheard of for traditional
Malay rulers to go against the Prime Minister's directives on

KUALA LUMP 00000185 002 OF 003


Chief Minister appointments. End Note.)

Still no Chief Minister in Terengganu
--------------


6. (SBU) Former Chief Minister of Terengganu Idris Jusoh was
expected to be sworn in again on March 9, but hours before
the ceremony was to take place and after some 100 guests had
arrived, the palace announced that the ceremony had been
delayed indefinitely. On March 14, the UMNO-linked newspaper
New Straits Times reported that "UMNO is still undecided as
to who should become (chief minister) after Idris Jusoh
seemed unable to garner support to continue with his
stewardship. It would seem that several UMNO assemblymen not
in favour of Idris have mustered enough influence on the
palace to withhold consent." The Sultan of Terengganu is
currently serving his 5-year term as the Yang di-Pertuan
Agong, or King of Malaysia, and he is expected to make a
decision on March 15 when he returns to the state.

Perak Moving Toward Resolution
--------------


7. (SBU) The Regent of Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah, abruptly
canceled the investiture ceremony for the state's new chief
minister on March 13 until all assemblymen from the new
People's Front (Barisan Rakyat) coalition (DAP, PKR and PAS)
agreed in writing to support Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (PAS)
as the new chief minister. The Regent also tasked the new
opposition based coalition to solve their differences
regarding the apportionment of the 10 state executive
councilors (exco members). Working throughout the evening,
the new coalition partners agreed to Nizar's appointment and
settled on appointing 6 exco members from DAP, 3 from PKR and
1 from PAS. On March 14, PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali
announced that all sides had compromised and the final
agreements had been submitted to the palace. Party officials
believe the swearing in ceremony may be held as early as
March 15.

Mukhriz Calls for Abdullah to Resign
--------------


8. (C) Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad and newly elected UMNO MP, explicitly called
on PM Abdullah to resign on March 14, and told reporters he
had sent a letter to this effect to Abdullah on March 12.
Mukhriz's letter stated that, "the only way to successfully
revive the coalition, UMNO and the nation is through your
(Abdullah's) resignation." He added that, "If you do not
resign in the near future, I fear the situation will become
untenable...." Mukhriz' father had earlier come out publicly
advising Abdullah to step down. Mukhriz is the first serving
UMNO leader to call explicitly for Abdullah's resignation.
Reportedly, Mukhriz had intended to make his stance known in
the few days immediately after the March 8 election, but a
heavy presence of police officers at the venue of the
announcement helped to convince him to delay.

Former UMNO Leader: All Sides Should Stop Fueling Tensions
-------------- --------------


9. (U) Former UMNO leader from Kelantan state Zaid Ibrahim
told the internet news site Malaysiakini that all sides
should stop fueling racial sentiments following the March 8
elections. "The political landscape has shifted so much and
it's a dangerous time for mischievous people and racists in
this country to exploit," he said. He criticized the
mainstream media for stirring chauvinist Malay sentiments.
Zaid also criticized arrogant statements from the opposition
DAP party, particularly Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's
comments on the end of NEP.

UMNO: No Ready Model for Reform
--------------


10. (C) Polchief met privately with Zaid Ibrahim on March 14.
Zaid, who did not gain approval from PM Abdullah to run in
the recent election, said he personally believed Abdullah
should resign. Zaid stated that UMNO had no ready model for
positive reform of the party following its dramatic March 8
election set-back. He could not identify a reform faction
within the party. Instead, UMNO hardliners would fall back
on Malay nationalism and push Abdullah to stake out a strong
pro-Malay position. This, however, risked creating racial
conflict and could drive away UMNO's non-Malay partners from
the National Front coalition. Zaid questioned why Ong Ka
Ting, the president of UMNO's Chinese partner the Malaysian

KUALA LUMP 00000185 003 OF 003


Chinese Association (MCA),would announce he is not available
for the pending cabinet and wondered whether MCA would remain
in the National Front (BN) coalition. (Note: Other contacts
in Kuala Lumpur told us that a debate continued within MCA on
whether to remain in BN. End Note.) Zaid said UMNO would
have a difficult time fomenting Malay protests, if the party
decided to do so, as he did not believe Malays would
spontaneously take to the streets in large numbers for UMNO.


11. (C) Zaid said UMNO elder stateman Tengku Razaleigh was
possibly the only senior UMNO figure that Abdullah could
bring in who was still widely respected and not corrupt.
Razaleigh had met with PM Abdullah over the past day or so,
Zaid said without sharing more details. (Note: On March 14,
we saw many vehicles parked at Razaleigh's home, which is
close to the Ambassador's Residence. Razaleigh's initial
public comments after the March 8 election strongly implied
the need for an UMNO leadership change. End Note.)
KEITH