AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH INFORMATION MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000682 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM MY SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH INFORMATION MINISTER Classified By: Classified By: Acting Political Section Chief W. Gary Gr ay for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Information Minister and prominent reform-proponent Shabery Cheek assured the Ambassador that PM Abdullah remains committed to his reform agenda despite resistance from some of the PM,s own senior advisors and the UMNO old guard. While exhibiting some discomfort regarding the issue, Shabery defended the Government,s line on Anwar,s arrest. The Ambassador stressed that we would continue to speak out for the rule of law with a respectful attitude as a friend of Malaysia. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During an expansive luncheon discussion August 4 the Ambassador explored the current media environment and prospects for continued political reform with Information Minister Shabery Cheek. Shabery, a Terengganu politician and former Semangat 46 opposition figure, is a strong proponent of reform within the Abdullah Badawi administration. He is responsible for initiating television coverage of Parliamentary debate, has credentialed online news journalists, and was the prominent ruling party representative in a televised debate with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim the evening before Anwar,s July 3 arrest. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador conveyed to Shabery our rationale for speaking out in support of the rule of law, recalling Tony Blair,s appearance at an annual lecture series August 1 in Kualau Lumpur, in which Blair spoke extensively about the importance of the rule of law to democratic development. Shabery affirmed his belief that Prime Minister Abdullah was committed to political reform, including increasing the independence of the judiciary and promoting an independent role for the Anti-Corruption Agency. The Information Minister conveyed some of the flavor of his effort within UMNO to persuade the old guard that it was necessary to change with the times, even if that meant giving a platform to opposition politicians. Despite his confidence that the Prime Minister would not allow reforms to be derailed or diverted, Shabery said more time would be necessary to overcome recalcitrant UMNO members who wished to preserve the status quo. ¶4. (C) Turning to the ongoing political crisis, Shabery acknowledged the Ambassador,s point to the effect that the involvement of the police and therefore the rule of law in an issue that would take the opposition leader out of his current political contest with the ruling party could not be seen as a merely criminal matter. He opined that it would have been best for Malaysia if this political imbroglio had not developed, but, reiterating the ruling party,s primary theme, the government had to deal with the fact of a citizen,s complaint against Anwar. Shabery suggested that if Anwar were to just acknowledge the consensual relationship perhaps the legal issue could recede. In any event, Shabery said, he was surprised that Anwar was willing to take the issue to the Sharia court as that would seem to be a nod in the direction of Islamic law and a retreat from political liberalization that Shabery believed to be in Malaysia,s best interest. ¶5. (C) Despite his evident discomfort with the role of defending the government,s line on Anwar,s arrest, Shabery was no supporter of the opposition leader. Recalling his history in opposition to UMNO as a member of the now defunct Semangat 46 from 1990 to 1996, Shabery spoke with similarly evident pride in the steps that had been taken since the March election this year. The ruling party,s tangible steps to repair damage done to the judiciary and to expand the media,s voice in civil society were lasting and would continue, Shabery said, and were accomplished without Anwar. The Ambassador noted that Abdullah,s apparent personal commitment to reform did not seem to be matched by many of his senior advisors. Shabery replied that Abdullah would work to secure his legacy between now and the 2010 date he had established for his retirement. Shabery emphasized his confidence that Abdullah would not relent, despite the apparent flagging momentum of political reforms at present. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador explained that as the Secretary made clear in her remarks in Singapore, we would continue to speak out for the rule of law in Malaysia, and we would do so out of respect. Elaborating, the Ambassador noted that we took Malaysian officials, criticism of the United States in the same spirit of respect. If Malaysia pointed out that it thought the U.S. was headed in the wrong direction on KUALA LUMP 00000682 002 OF 002 Guantanamo or in Iraq, we took as our premise that Malaysians spoke from the perspective of a friend seeking to criticize constructively in hopes that the basis for our cooperation would be preserved or enlarged. We hoped for the same, the Ambassador commented, from Malaysians when we conveyed our concern for the rule of law in Malaysia, a set of principles and practices that was central to every element of our bilateral cooperation from trade, finance, and export control to anti-terrorism cooperation and interfaith dialogue. Shabery acknowledged the point and promised to keep up dialogue with the Embassy to help maximize chances for clear communication. ¶7. (C) The Ambassador encouraged Shabery to travel to the United States to meet senior U.S. officials to share his perspective on political reform in Malaysia. The Minister suggested that perhaps he would be able to travel after the December ruling party meeting, "if things settle down." The Ambassador joined Shabery in hoping for that outcome, adding that it was the U.S. wish that such results would come by means of a series of developments that strengthened the rule of law in Malaysia. KEITH