(C) KUDOS FOR TIMELY COVERAGE OF MALAYSIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 040438 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV MY SUBJECT: (C) KUDOS FOR TIMELY COVERAGE OF MALAYSIAN CABINET REORGANIZATION (C-AL9-00911) REF: KUALA LUMPUR 000266 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE POST'S RAPID AND DETAILED COVERAGE OF NEW PRIME MINISTER NAJIB'S FIRST CABINET SHUFFLE. THE IMMEDIATE COVERAGE ALLOWED ANALYSTS TO ASSESS HOW SOON OUR OWN FOLLOW-ON REPORTING SHOULD BE PRODUCED, AND THE REPORT PROVIDED WELCOME FODDER FOR NEW BIOS AND DOMESTIC POLITICAL REPORTING, AND FOR BRIEFINGS ON INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS. REFTEL WAS ALSO PASSED TO AND APPRECIATED BY CUSTOMERS AT THE NSC. ANALYSTS WELCOME ANY FURTHER REPORTING ON THE NEW CABINET, PARTICULARLY BIO INFORMATION REGARDING POST'S PERSPECTIVES ON THE MINISTERS AS INTERLOCUTORS, THE PERSONAL GOALS OF EACH MINISTER FOR THEIR MINISTRY, AND POSSIBLE TIES OF EACH MINISTER TO CORRUPTION. THE LATTER IS OF INTEREST TO CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OF NAJIB'S TAINTED HISTORY. ANALYSTS WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE POST'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE MAKEUP OF NAJIB'S ECONOMIC TEAM. THANK YOU, AND WARM REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. CLINTON