Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR300
2008-04-22 08:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

MALAYSIA YET TO RESPOND ON APDP

Tags:  PREL PHUM KDEM MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4258
OO RUEHDT
DE RUEHKL #0300 1130802
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 220802Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0864
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3268
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2526
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 0023
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 1744
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 2627
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0763
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0396
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1650
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2509
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0067
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0554
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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)
.


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