MALAYSIANS LAUD PRESIDENT'S CAIRO SPEECH, QUESTION WHETHER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000478 SIPDIS FOR EAP/PD AND EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KISL KPAO SOCI MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIANS LAUD PRESIDENT'S CAIRO SPEECH, QUESTION WHETHER U.S. CAN DELIVER ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Najib Razak, speaking to the press on June 11, welcomed President Obama's Cairo address and efforts to "mend the rift between the Muslim world and the West" while noting the importance of concrete measures, and offered Malaysia's cooperation with US. efforts. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, speaking to the BBC on June 4, praised the President's remarks on democracy and rule of law, but noted that the world would need to see whether the President could deliver on actions to help end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Malaysian media coverage of President Obama's speech to the Muslim world was widespread and generally positive. Most print and television media outlets focused on "a new beginning" between the U.S. and the Muslim world, with pointed caveats about the situations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and especially Palestine. Editorial comment was robust; many writers questioned whether the President can deliver on his promises. Post efforts to promote the speech included a speech-viewing gathering at the Charg d'Affaires home and new media outreach to contacts. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- PM NAJIB WELCOMES SPEECH, ASKS FOR CONCRETE ACTIONS -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) One week after the President's Cairo address, which included a positive reference to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak publicly welcomed the President's remarks to Muslim communities. On June 11, Malaysian Government news service Bernama headlined, "Malaysia Welcomes Obama's Plan," and reported Prime Minister Najib's comments, "I think his speech was good but it is important to back it with concrete measures. Malaysia is prepared to cooperate with the US to achieve this." On June 12, government-controlled English-language daily New Straits Times reported that the Prime Minister is supportive of President Obama's goal to heal the rift between the West and Islamic world, and reported additional comments from Najib, "I welcome Obama's speech where he spoke of new beginnings between the U.S. and Muslims worldwide. It promises a new beginning, based on mutual respect and truthfulness...It is most welcoming that Obama said the U.S. would not wage a war against the Muslim world, or Islam." Najib lauded Obama's acknowledgement of the Palestinian aspiration for dignity and their right to sovereignty, and he also applauded the President for acknowledging Islam's contributions to science and art. -------------- -------------- OPPOSITION LEADER CITES "IMPORTANT BEGINNING" -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, speaking with the BBC on June 4 immediately after the President's address, generally praised the speech as a "very important beginning" and said the President's remarks on democracy and rule of law would "resonate well with the Muslim world." He cautioned that the world would need to see whether the President could deliver on concrete actions to help end the Israeli Palestinian conflict and address fundamental Palestinian concerns. Anwar expressed hope that Muslim leaders would reciprocate the President's positive initiative. -------------- -------------- POSITIVE COVERAGE, CAVEATS ABOUT PALESTINE -------------- -------------- ¶4. (U) Many Malaysians saw excerpts of or read about President Obama's speech in major English, Malaysian and Chinese language print, television and radio outlets. Television coverage of President Obama's speech in Cairo was favorable. On June 4, government-owned Bahasa Malaysia- and English-language Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) hailed the speech as, "A new beginning in ties between the United States and the Muslim world," and focused on Palestine, combating extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and partnership, vice patronage, with Iraq. Most Bahasa Malaysia- and English-language television stations ran stories on the speech deep in their broadcasts. ¶5. (U) Many print outlets carried positive headlines over wire service stories. On June 5, the front page of government-controlled English-language daily New Straits Times heralded, "This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," and on its inside pages, headlined "Quest for a new age of peace." On June 5, government-influenced English-language daily Star ran on its inside pages, "Obama: Make the change -- U.S. President urges young Muslims to shun violence." Journalist Shahanaaz Sher Habib, who interviewed the President in Cairo on an R-arranged trip, also wrote two positive articles in the June 5 and 6 editions of the Star that also referenced the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After lauding the President's message, she wrote, "The U.S. President... is offering sweet words, a vision, and more importantly hope. And the Muslim world, hungry for solutions, is lapping it all up. But the question is: can he deliver?" KUALA LUMP 00000478 002 OF 002 ¶6. (U) Government-controlled English-language daily New Straits Times ran additional positive reactions from professors and civil society representatives. One usually anti-American commentator, Chandra Muzaffar, President of International Movement for a Just World (JUST),praised President Obama for fighting negative stereotypes about Islam, but noted that the U.S. should exert more pressure on Israel to freeze new settlements. ¶7. (U) Radio newscasts in Malaysia are somewhat limited; however excerpts of the speech were carried by government-influenced English-language Red FM and government-owned Bahasa Malaysia- and English-language radio RTM. After listening to long excerpts of the speech on RTM, one contact reported that it was the first time in her life that she had heard an American president on state-owned radio. -------------- -------------- OP-ED WRITERS POSITIVE, BUT SKEPTICAL -------------- -------------- ¶8. (U) Print editorial comment was copious, in contrast to the silent blogosphere. Most coverage was positive, with some writers expressing delight at mention of Kuala Lumpur in the speech. One common editorial caveat dwelled on President Obama's ability to deliver on his promises. On June 6, government-influenced Bahasa Malaysia-language daily Berita Harian opined that "...if Obama successfully fulfills his promises, he will regain the confidence of the Muslim world." Government-controlled Bahasa Malaysia-language daily Utusan Malaysia commented on June 7 that, "the President and the Muslim world must be ready to face challenging tasks ahead" and, surprisingly, despite its usual partisan tone, acknowledged that "Middle East peace is a joint effort between Israel and Palestine." On June 12, a Berita Harian op-ed headline read, "Demand for Obama's promises not to remain only in rhetoric," under which the author commented that "the speech was uplifting... but has not succeeded in stopping the fighting between warring Islamic factions in Pakistan nor stop inter-religious squabbles in Thailand." Government-influenced Chinese-language daily China Press commented on June 5 that assuaging the Israeli-Palestinian relationship will not be a smooth ride for Obama as Netanyahu is not compromising. -------------- -------------- GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT: POST OUTREACH ACTIVITIES -------------- -------------- ¶9. (U) 400 contacts received an SMS message during the speech to advise them how they could respond to Obama's message. Hundreds of contacts received a letter alerting them to the speech; as a result, traffic to the Ambassador's blog increased. Under a cover letter from the Ambassador, the Embassy distributed the speech electronically to key contacts on June 5. ¶10. (U) Audience reaction at a speech-viewing event hosted by the Charg d'Affaires was generally positive; most interlocutors were somewhat critical of President Obama's comments on Israel and Palestine. A moderate businessman noted that Obama's speech laid the foundation for a better relationship between the U.S. and the Muslim world, while an editor at a major Bahasa Malaysia-language daily reacted negatively to Obama's comment about the USG's "unbreakable relationship with Israel." One conservative Muslim NGO leader commented that the U.S. was trying to be more responsible in the world and was happily incredulous that the President acknowledged Islam's contributions to science; however, he also criticized Obama's comments on Palestine, strongly arguing that the USG should not place preconditions on Hamas in negotiations with Israel. In a comment prescient of most editorial reaction, a ruling party supporter noted that what Obama does in the Muslim world will be more important than what he says, especially in Palestine. RAPSON