VZCZCXRO3088
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #1476/01 2741010
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011010Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0043
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2375
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0717
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1036

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001476 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2017 
TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC BM MY
SUBJECT: BURMA: UMNO YOUTH PARTCIPATE IN RALLY; POLITICIANS 
SPEAK OUT 
 
REF: KUALA LUMPUR 1470 - CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT HAS 
     FAILED 
 
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark 
for reasons 1.4 (b and d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  The Malaysian Prime Minister's son-in-law 
Khairy Jamaluddin and the United Malays National Organization 
(UMNO) Youth wing joined the cause of promoting democratic 
reform in Burma and participated in a peaceful rally in front 
of the Burmese Embassy on October 1.  Approximately 200 
supporters from "The Malaysian Youth Coalition for Peace and 
Freedom in Burma" braved a constant rain to deliver a peace 
message to the Burmese Embassy.  Despite their presence at 
both the September 28 demonstration (reftel) and at the 
October 1 rally, local news channels have not broadcast 
domestic actions in support of the democracy movement in 
Burma, likely reflecting GOM sensitivity regarding the 
presence of over 50,000 Burmese refugees who have no legal 
status.  The former UN envoy to Burma, retired Malaysian 
diplomat Razali Ismail, chided the GOM and other ASEAN 
nations for their past illusions concerning democratic reform 
in Burma, and some Malaysian politicians and parliamentarians 
called on ASEAN to expel Burma.  Public concern over Burma as 
voiced by UMNO will give the Malaysian government greater 
scope to consider next steps.  Malaysia, however, has been 
consistent in its rejection of calls for sanctions against 
Burma, reflecting both its substantial investments in Burma's 
oil and gas industry and Malaysia's general policy of 
opposing sanctions in principle.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Perhaps taking a green light from Prime Minister 
Abdullah Badawi's strong criticism of the Burmese junta 
during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on 
September 28, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) 
Youth wing joined the cause of promoting democratic reform in 
Burma and participated in a peaceful rally in front of the 
Burmese Embassy on October 1.  The rally was organized by a 
previously unknown organization calling itself "The Malaysian 
Youth Coalition for Peace and Freedom in Burma."  Hampered by 
a constant drizzle of rain, only about 200 activists showed 
up for the Monday morning demonstration, but among those 
present was influential UMNO Deputy Youth chief Khairy 
Jamaluddin, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah. 
Embassy contacts advised us that the organization is 
spearheaded by youth leaders from the Peoples' Movement Party 
(Gerakan), a coalition partner of the ruling National Front 
(BN) and volunteers from "Yayasan Penyayang", a foundation 
established by PM Abdullah's late wife Endon and currently 
headed by his daughter, Nori Abdullah. 
 
¶3. (C) Despite local television news teams present at both 
the September 28 demonstration (reftel) and at the October 1 
rally, local news channels have not broadcast domestic 
actions in support of the democracy movement in Burma.  Local 
TV news has limited its reporting on Burma to international 
news.  (Comment:  Despite local sympathy for democracy 
actions in Burma, broadcasts of local actions would 
necessarily highlight the presence of and continued plight of 
Malaysia's 50,000 plus Burmese refugees.  The GOM does not 
legally recognize refugee status for the Burmese or any other 
nationality.  End Comment.) 
 
¶4. (U) The former UN envoy to Burma, retired Malaysian 
diplomat Razali Ismail, chided the GOM and other ASEAN 
nations for their past illusions concerning democratic 
reforms in Burma.  In an interview with the local press, 
Razali stated: "Many people knew that (ASEAN's policy of) 
constructive engagement was not constructive because there 
was very little engagement.  Only the Foreign Ministers 
insisted that the constructive engagement was working.  It is 
an illusion they placed before their eyes and the Prime 
Minister (Abdullah) as burst the bubble of delusion."  Razali 
was not insistent that the military junta be left out of 
Burma's development process, but concluded that all the 
parties must sit together to work out Burma's future. 
Nevertheless, Razali concluded, progress would only occur if 
Burma's neighbors worked with the United Nations to convince 
the military junta to accept change. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In Bangkok, Malaysian parliamentarian and president 
of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) Zaid 
Ibrahim (UMNO - Kota Bharu) joined other AIPMC members on 
September 28 in urging ASEAN to expel Burma.  In a press 
conference, Zaid welcomed the ASEAN statement on Burma but 
emphasized the need for ASEAN to support action at the UN 
Security Council, as well.  Zaid insisted that if consensus 
could not be reached within ASEAN, individual member states 
 
KUALA LUMP 00001476  002 OF 002 
 
 
should take action, including implementing sanctions, to 
dissociate themselves from the military regime in Burma. 
Malaysia's opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) quickly 
released a statement in support of the UMNO politician's 
recommendation to expel Burma from ASEAN and urged the 
government to unite in their opposition to "Myanmar's 
murderous regime."  (Note:  Zaid's influence within UMNO is 
limited due to his strained position within the party.  Zaid 
remains suspended from his party position and may not be 
chosen to run in the next election.  End Note.) 
 
¶6. (C) Comment:  That politically ambitious PM son-in-law 
Khairy and UMNO Youth are now voicing their support for 
democratic reform in Burma is a good sign that Burma has 
become an issue relevant to Malaysian voters.  Khairy, who 
led the protest against Secretary Rice's 2006 visit to Kuala 
Lumpur, would not stage such a showing to please Western 
audiences, but to gain mileage with his own constituents. 
Mainstream public concern over Burma as voiced by UMNO will 
give the Malaysian government greater scope to consider next 
steps.  Malaysia, however, has been consistent in its 
rejection of calls for sanctions against Burma, reflecting 
both its substantial investments in Burma's oil and gas 
industry and Malaysia's general policy of opposing sanctions 
in principle.  Domestic politics regarding the non-status of 
Burmese refugees also may complicate Malaysia's future 
response. 
KEITH