MALAYSIA LAUDS U.S. ENGAGEMENT OF BURMA BUT OFFERS

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000976 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM BM MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA LAUDS U.S. ENGAGEMENT OF BURMA BUT OFFERS NO CONCRETE ACTION REF: STATE 121789 -- PRESSING FOR DIALOGUE IN BURMA ¶1. (SBU) Polcouns and Poloff met with recently appointed MFA Under Secretary Tan Yong Thai, who is responsible for covering Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, for a courtesy call and to discuss reftel demarche points on December 7, ¶2009. U/S Tan praised U.S. efforts to engage Burma and was critical of Burma's lack of reciprocation, noting "the Myanmar side needs to do its part." He opined that "engagement is the only way forward, because it gives them confidence to change their way," but added "this will take time." Tan conceded he could not specify how much time it would take, but added that Burma was "heading in the right direction." ¶2. (SBU) Regarding the 2010 elections, Tan said "We'd like to see all sides participate in the 2010 election," adding that "all other ASEAN countries feel this way," but stopped short of affirming that the GOM would push Burma to allow Aung San Suu Kyi to meet with the NLD Central Executive Committee. He added that the Burmese government's "credibility was at stake" with their conduct in the upcoming elections. U/S Tan reminded us that his government's position is for the immediate release of ASSK, and that Malaysia along with other ASEAN members were "always keeping up the pressure." KEITH