SINGAPORE MUSLIMS HAVE HOPE BUT WANT CHANGE

UNCLAS SINGAPORE 000152

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR PA/PRS
NEW DELHI FOR EHRENDREICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO SOCI SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE MUSLIMS HAVE HOPE BUT WANT CHANGE

REF: STATE 00007500


1. (SBU) Summary. Singapore's Muslims welcome the Obama
presidency as "a new era of hope," but are waiting to see
what new steps the United States will take, Hajji Mohammad
Alami Musa, President of the Islamic Religious Council of
Singapore (MUIS),told the Charge d' Affaires (CDA) on
February 12. (Note: MUIS is a statutory body responsible for
making policies related to Singapore's Muslim community. End
Note.) Two key areas in which Singapore's Muslims are hoping
for changes are U.S. policy in the Middle East and
development assistance for the Muslim world. End Summary.


2. (SBU) In response to reftel, Post distributed the
transcript of President Obama's interview with al-Arabiya to
approximately 100 key Muslim contacts. The CDA also met with
Alami and his staff to deliver the follow-up points in reftel
and to exchange views on United States-Muslim relations.
President Obama's overtures have received widespread press
coverage and the public response has been positive. Alami
said the Singapore Muslim community believes that there is
now an opportunity for improved relations following many
years during which U.S. policies towards the Islamic world
were "quite repressive and very negative." In response to
receiving the interview transcript, Member of Parliament Zaqy
Mohamad replied, "the President's move is certainly a good
one to broach this sensitive subject at the outset."


3. (SBU) Alami suggested some of this optimism comes from an
impression that President Obama can relate to the powerless
and said Singapore's Muslims were jubilant over President
Obama's election. Alami applauded the USG's outreach to
Muslims in Indonesia, and noted that Muslims in Singapore,
Malaysia and Brunei also want to work with the USG to promote
enhanced mutual understanding and respect. Khartini Khalid,
a lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, told PDOff on February 13
that her students often speak of President Obama's election
as an achievement and an inspiration for minorities. Others,
such as Zalman Putra Ahmad Ali of MUIS, cite what they see as
specific characteristics of President Obama, such as a
nuanced approach that "sees the diversity of the Muslim
world" and his willingness to engage in dialogue as reasons
to hope for better relations.


3. (SBU) Despite these positive sentiments, Singapore's
Muslims are "not fully embracing" President Obama until they
see what policies his administration will follow, said
Khalid. U.S. Middle East policy is the key barometer for
viewing the United States, said Albakri Ahmad, Dean of the
MUIS Academy. Muslims believe progress in the Middle East
peace process depends on the United States and from the
Muslim perspective, the United States could put much more
pressure on Israel, said Alami. Khalid expressed doubts
about how far President Obama would go to restrain Israel and
Alami said skeptics fear President Obama may soon "settle in
to the status quo."


4. (SBU) Making a substantial investment in development and
education assistance to the Muslim world would be another way
for the United States to further global peace and demonstrate
its commitment to improving relations, said Alami. This is
especially important now as the Muslim world will likely
suffer greatly in the economic crisis, said Asri Aziz of
MUIS. Alami also offered to host an inter-faith dialogue
session if President Obama visits Singapore.

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