Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUALALUMPUR889
2008-10-08 10:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
PRIME MINISTER ABDULLAH TO STEP DOWN IN MARCH
how-toVZCZCXRO1135 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #0889 2821058 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081058Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1751 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 0154 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2524 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2644 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0492 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000889
SIPDIS
FOR EAP, EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR MARR KDEM MY
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ABDULLAH TO STEP DOWN IN MARCH
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 858 - ENDGAME FOR ABDULLAH
B. KUALA LUMPUR 833 - SEPT 18 SETBACK
Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000889
SIPDIS
FOR EAP, EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR MARR KDEM MY
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ABDULLAH TO STEP DOWN IN MARCH
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 858 - ENDGAME FOR ABDULLAH
B. KUALA LUMPUR 833 - SEPT 18 SETBACK
Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced late on
October 8 after a meeting of the ruling National Front (BN)
coalition that he would not seek reelection as the president
of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in the
March 2009 party elections. By stepping down as UMNO
president, Abdullah by tradition also will relinquish his
role as Prime Minister. Abdullah explained that he was
stepping down because, "I do not want a divided party or a
divided government." He reportedly added, "I know I've not
been doing well; it's time for someone else to take over."
According to an Embassy contact who spoke with several
participants in the closed-door meeting, none of the BN
leaders spoke up in favor of Abdullah remaining in office.
2. (U) Abdullah told reporters he believed BN leaders would
accept Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as his successor
and that Najib would win election as UMNO's next president.
The Prime Minister said he would not pick a candidate for
UMNO Deputy President/Deputy Prime Minister. Abdullah also
indicated he would attempt to see through a number of reforms
before he stepped down in March. As word leaked out of
Abdullah's announcement, Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim
released a press statement that argued, "it would be an
unmitigated disaster for the nation if Najib Tun Razak were
to become Prime Minister."
3. (C) Comment: Abdullah's decision was widely anticipated
following his failure to gain support for his plan to remain
in office until 2010 and calls from him to step down during
successive meetings of the UMNO Supreme Council, September 18
and 26. Abdullah's decision came seven months to the day
after UMNO and its coalition suffered their poorest electoral
performance ever in the March 8 national elections, losing
five states to the opposition and dipping below the
two-thirds threshold in Parliament needed to amend the
constitution. The electoral setback initiated an intense
leadership struggle within UMNO featuring calls for
Abdullah's resignation. The overwhelming victory by Anwar
Ibrahim in a late August by-election increased the pressure
on Abdullah. We cannot rule out the possibility that
Abdullah leaves office earlier than March 2009. Septel will
offer more information and analysis of the Prime Minister's
decision to step down.
KEITH
SIPDIS
FOR EAP, EAP/MTS AND INR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR MARR KDEM MY
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ABDULLAH TO STEP DOWN IN MARCH
REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 858 - ENDGAME FOR ABDULLAH
B. KUALA LUMPUR 833 - SEPT 18 SETBACK
Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced late on
October 8 after a meeting of the ruling National Front (BN)
coalition that he would not seek reelection as the president
of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in the
March 2009 party elections. By stepping down as UMNO
president, Abdullah by tradition also will relinquish his
role as Prime Minister. Abdullah explained that he was
stepping down because, "I do not want a divided party or a
divided government." He reportedly added, "I know I've not
been doing well; it's time for someone else to take over."
According to an Embassy contact who spoke with several
participants in the closed-door meeting, none of the BN
leaders spoke up in favor of Abdullah remaining in office.
2. (U) Abdullah told reporters he believed BN leaders would
accept Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as his successor
and that Najib would win election as UMNO's next president.
The Prime Minister said he would not pick a candidate for
UMNO Deputy President/Deputy Prime Minister. Abdullah also
indicated he would attempt to see through a number of reforms
before he stepped down in March. As word leaked out of
Abdullah's announcement, Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim
released a press statement that argued, "it would be an
unmitigated disaster for the nation if Najib Tun Razak were
to become Prime Minister."
3. (C) Comment: Abdullah's decision was widely anticipated
following his failure to gain support for his plan to remain
in office until 2010 and calls from him to step down during
successive meetings of the UMNO Supreme Council, September 18
and 26. Abdullah's decision came seven months to the day
after UMNO and its coalition suffered their poorest electoral
performance ever in the March 8 national elections, losing
five states to the opposition and dipping below the
two-thirds threshold in Parliament needed to amend the
constitution. The electoral setback initiated an intense
leadership struggle within UMNO featuring calls for
Abdullah's resignation. The overwhelming victory by Anwar
Ibrahim in a late August by-election increased the pressure
on Abdullah. We cannot rule out the possibility that
Abdullah leaves office earlier than March 2009. Septel will
offer more information and analysis of the Prime Minister's
decision to step down.
KEITH