MALAYSIA YET TO RESPOND ON APDP

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000300 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL/MLA, S/P, DRL; G (KCURRIE), NSC FOR EPHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA YET TO RESPOND ON APDP REF: STATE 39596 Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reasons 1.4 (b+d) . ¶1. (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Adi Mohammed of the MFA Multilateral Political Affairs directorate on 17 April. Mohammed promised to review the issue but as of 22 April we have been unable to elicit any further response from MFA. ¶2. (C) Malaysia is typically very wary of any U.S.-sponsored human rights and democracy initiatives, and we would expect an uphill battle in bringing the GOM into the Asia-Pacific Democracy Partnership. In some respects Malaysia is an ideal candidate to participate in APDP -- the Prime Minister has recently announced plans for several significant steps to promote good governance, namely re-instituting an independent body to select members of the judiciary, and increasing the independence and capability of an anti-corruption commission. After the March 8 election and unprecedented gains by an alliance of opposition parties, the country faces a more pluralistic political environment, though significant institutional impediments to stronger democracy remain in place (as highlighted in the human rights report). If it joins APDP, however, Malaysia would see itself as promoting its own democratic credentials, and not as the recipient of any outside advice. The GOM undoubtedly would react negatively to any initiatives that could be interpreted as entailing other countries instructing or assisting Malaysia on development of democratic institutions. The GOM consistently has resisted any proposals for outsiders to observe elections here, but may be more receptive to sending Malaysian observers to other elections in the region. Other possible Malaysian involvement in APDP might include providing technical and administrative training in Malaysia to officials of less developed nations, and purely rhetorical steps such as support for general statements of principles. KEITH