MALAYSIA UNDECIDED ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000849 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA UNDECIDED ON DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS RESOLUTION REF: STATE 106839 ¶1. (SBU) PolCouns delivered reftel talking points to Ganeson Sivagurunathan, Under Secretary for the MFA's Multilateral Political Division, on October 23, explaining that the USG appreciated Malaysia's co-sponsorship of the UNHRC freedom of expression resolution and would like to work constructively with Malaysia and other members of the Organization of Islamic Conferences (OIC) to see the Defamation of Religions resolution withheld in UNGA's Third Committee this year, with the aim of jointly developing a resolution to present to the UNHRC in its March or June sessions. ¶2. (SBU) Ganeson said he understood that the defamation issue was a priority for the USG and replied that the Defamation of Religions resolution was under discussion in both Kuala Lumpur and New York but the GOM had not yet decided on its course of action. He promised to convey the points delivered to colleagues. He praised the UNHRC process leading to the freedom of expression resolution and said the GOM was in contact with the Government of Egypt about next steps in the UNHRC. ¶3. (SBU) Asked about how the GOM would interact with other OIC members in formulating its position on the defamation resolution, Ganeson said that the communique from the annual OIC Summit was an important guide for Malaysia's positions on UN issues becuase it represented "a consensus all our leaders agreed on." KEITH