Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR408
2008-05-20 11:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

MAHATHIR RESIGNS FROM UMNO, NO ONE FOLLOWS

Tags:  PGOV PINR KDEM MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8550
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0408/01 1411108
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201108Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1018
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000408 

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM MY
SUBJECT: MAHATHIR RESIGNS FROM UMNO, NO ONE FOLLOWS

REF: KL 377 OPPOSITION SIGNALS IMMINENT DEFECTIONS

FROM RULING COALITION

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000408

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/MTS AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM MY
SUBJECT: MAHATHIR RESIGNS FROM UMNO, NO ONE FOLLOWS

REF: KL 377 OPPOSITION SIGNALS IMMINENT DEFECTIONS

FROM RULING COALITION

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark for reasons 1.4 (b
and d).

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


1. (C) Former PM Mahathir unexpectedly announced his
resignation from the ruling UMNO party on May 19 in an
obvious attempt to increase pressure on PM Abdullah to step
down. In an indication of the seriousness of Mahathir's
move, PM Abdullah hastily arranged a May 20 meeting with UMNO
Members of Parliament in which the MPs reportedly reaffirmed
their party loyalty. Thus far, this gambit has failed to
inspire any other significant defections from UMNO, and even
Mahathir's son has said he will remain in the party. Abdullah
appears on track to survive this latest challenge, at least
for now. End Summary.

Surprise Announcement
--------------


2. (SBU) In his latest gambit to oust the successor he
himself chose, on May 19, former PM Mahathir announced his
resignation from United Malay National Organization (UMNO) to
protest against PM Abdullah's leadership. Mahathir urged
other UMNO members to do the same, advising that they not
join any other political parties but come back to UMNO once
PM Abdullah has resigned as party president and prime
minister. Mahathir's unexpected announcement took place in
his native Kedah, at an NGO-organized forum on the "The
Future of Malays after the Twelfth general election" attended
by about 1,500 people. This is not the first time that Tun
Dr. Mahathir has left the party. He was expelled in 1969
after attacking then-party president and PM Tunku Abdul
Rahman. He rejoined UMNO three years later, and was PM and
UMNO President from 1981 to October 2003.


3. (SBU) Mahathir said UMNO leadership must listen to its
members, not just the advice of "a small group of powerful
people," an obvious reference to Abdullah's small coterie of
advisors. The former PM added that Abdullah was not suitable
to lead because he was too soft and would give in "to
Singapore, the United States, Hindu Action Force (HINDRAF),
and the Bar Council." Mahathir maintained that Abdullah had
consistently refused to accept the fact that under his

leadership, UMNO and the National Front (Barisan Nasional,
BN) were on the verge of collapse after the coalition lost
four states and the Federal Territory (where BN won 1 out of
the 11 parliament seats),and failed to recapture Kelantan in
the March 2008 general election.


4. (C) A veteran journalist told us that Mahathir had been
forced to make this dramatic move after realizing his initial
campaign to oust Abdullah had failed to gain traction with
party leaders, powerful UMNO "warlords" or divisional chiefs.
This "shock treatment" could allow Mahathir to regain the
initiative and restore the momentum within the party
leadership to oust Abdullah. Mahathir's announcement also
came several days after Abdullah's Cabinet approved the
release of the Royal Commission report on the Mahathir-era
Lingam tape scandal, and suggested the government could
pursue criminal investigations against those implicated,
including presumably Mahathir.

Reactions to the resignation
--------------


5. (SBU) Since Mahathir's announcement, his wife Siti
Hasmah, former UMNO Secretary General Sanusi Junid and 300
UMNO members from Mahathir's constituency in Kedah state have
followed him in resigning from the party, but as yet there
have been no other significant defections. PM Abdullah
categorically stated that he will not give in to pressure
from the former PM and resign as PM and President of UMNO,
telling reporters, "Why should I? I have a lot of work to
do." While admitting Mahathir's resignation had "weakened the
party to an extent," he did not foresee any mass exodus of
UMNO members. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak,
currently at the World Economic Forum in Egypt, hoped that
UMNO members would remain calm and urged them to have faith
in the current leadership to reform the party. While he was
"saddened" by Mahathir's sudden resignation, Najib asserted
that "we cannot allow UMNO's internal problems to distract us
from the task at hand." Mahathir had earlier accused Najib
of cowardice for failing to speak up against PM Abdullah.

KUALA LUMP 00000408 002 OF 002


The former PM changed his tune, however, after a May 10
meeting with Najib and now again publicly favors Najib to
succeed PM Abdullah immediately.


6. (SBU) UMNO Vice President Muhyiddin Yassin, currently
on a business promotion visit to the U.S., echoed Najib's
view, advising UMNO members against making hasty decisions.
Tengku Razaleigh, who has declared his intention to challenge
Abdullah in the December UMNO party election, dismissed any
notion of resigning from the party. Former DPM Musa Hitam,
while expressing "sadness" over the resignation, added
caustically that "the thorn in the flesh has been removed"
and said the party should move away from "Mahathirism" and
concentrate on "returning to its original path."

PM Quickly Gathers UMNO MPs
--------------


7. (C) In an indication of the seriousness of Mahathir's
move and the anxiety within the Prime Minister's circle, PM
Abdullah hastily arranged a meeting with UMNO Members of
Parliament on May 20. According to immediate press reports
and our contacts, the MPs reportedly pledged their support
for the current leadership and rebuffed Mahathir's call to
resign. The ex-PM's son Mukhriz Mahathir, who also has
called publicly for Abdullah to step down, was conspicuous in
his absence from this meeting. He later told the press that
he was not resigning from UMNO, but reiterated his call for
Abdullah to immediately step down.


8. (SBU) The UMNO-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia,
currently firmly under editorial direction from the PM's
office, also criticized Mahathir's latest move. The paper
editorialized that it was wrong for Mahathir to call on UMNO
leaders to step down, especially when the party is currently
facing major challenges. The editorial added that UMNO
members should view Mahathir's call as a test and unite under
the current leadership.

Opposition Reactions Mixed
--------------


9. (SBU) Islamist opposition party PAS spiritual leader Nik
Aziz Nik Mat said he was the "happiest politician alive" upon
hearing of Mahathir's resignation from UMNO, predicting that
the news would "rejuvenate" PAS members and inspire others in
UMNO to leave, as the party was no longer relevant.
Democratic Action Party Chairman Karpal Singh, however,
described the former PM as "a gutter politician unabashedly
prepared to ruin his own party." Former DPM and de facto
Peoples Justice Party (PKR) leader Anwar Ibrahim commented
that the sudden resignation of his former mentor was
"indicative of UMNO's worsening crisis, where leaders
continue to bicker and fight, while the welfare of ordinary
Malaysians are increasingly neglected." Anwar urged "all
Malaysians of conscience" to join PKR and the opposition
alliance.


Comment
--------------


10. (C) Mahathir's unexpected announcement seems to have
delivered a momentary shock to PM Abdullah and the rest of
UMNO, and sent the Prime Minister scrambling to reaffirm the
party loyalty of UMNO MPs. For now, however, no one of
significance has heeded Mahathir's call. If even Mahathir's
own son Mukhriz chooses to stay within UMNO, it is more
difficult to imagine others abandoning the party at this
juncture. Abdullah appears to be on track to weather this
latest challenge from Mahathir. After a week of intense
political groundwork, the Prime Minister and his circle also
successfully warded off rumored calls for the defection of
ruling coalition MPs from East Malaysia (reftel),which,
contrary to some predictions, did not materialize over the
May 17-18 weekend. UMNO's leadership struggle and challenges
posed by the opposition continue to require PM Abdullah's
energy and focus.
KEITH