AMBASSADOR'S DISCUSSION WITH MFA PERMSEC HO ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SINGAPORE 000310

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2028
TAGS: PREL MY SN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S DISCUSSION WITH MFA PERMSEC HO ON
MALAYSIAN ELECTIONS

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 160 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) The Ambassador and MFA Permanent Secretary Peter Ho
met over lunch on March 12, discussing issues including
Singapore's perceptions of the elections in Malaysia
(reftel.) Ho said that in Singapore "everybody was shocked"
by the extraordinarily strong showing by the opposition in
Malaysia. People knew that change was coming, perhaps one
election down the road, but did not anticipate that change
could come this fast.


2. (C) Ho said that on the ruling National Front (BN) side,
PM Abdullah Badawi is probably done for politically, despite
having been sworn in again as PM on March 10. Former PM
Mahathir Mohamad will keep throwing stones at Abdullah. The
political knives will be out for Abdullah's son-in-law UMNO
politician Khairy Jamaluddin, whom nobody likes because he
got where he is through family ties. As for Deputy Prime
Minister Najib Razak, he is an opportunist. Although he has
not been critical of Singapore, he will not hesitate to go in
that direction if it is expedient for him to do so. Najib's
political fortunes continue to be haunted by the Mongolian
murder scandal. (Note: The scandal involves the ongoing
trial of Najib's former political adviser Abdul Razak Baginda
for abetting the 2006 murder of the Mongolian woman who had
been Abdul Razak's ex-lover; two policemen from Najib's
protective detail also are on trial for carrying out the
murder. End Note.) The MIC's Samy Vellu bears a large share
of the responsibility for the BN's poor showing in the
elections. The Indian community's unhappiness, which helped
create the current political dynamic in Malaysia, reflects
the fact that Samy Vellu neglected the interests of the
Indian community, even when its temples were being destroyed,
focusing instead on his business activities in India, Ho
said.


3. (C) Ho stated that on the opposition side, former Deputy
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came out of the elections in a
strong position, as shown by the electoral victories by his
wife (whom Ho commented he has met and finds very impressive)
and his daughter. The Islamic PAS will be pushed in a more
pragmatic, less radical direction by its increased proximity
to real political power. Within the ruling coalition, UMNO
could find itself pulled in the opposite direction as it
comes under increasing pressure to compete with PAS, Ho said.



4. (C) Ho expressed pessimism about Malaysia's future
prospects. Malaysians from the Chinese and Indian minority
communities keep leaving the country. The relative size of
the Malay Muslim majority keeps increasing. As a result,
more Malaysian students are studying in religious schools and
fewer are studying in more rigorous secular schools. This is
harming Malaysia's international competitiveness, Ho said.


Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD