VZCZCXRO3892
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0387/01 1350948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140948Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0994
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2454
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2538
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0320
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0180
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0770
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0399
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1656
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2520
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0558
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1075
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1576

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000387 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MLS AARON COPE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PREL MARR BM MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA: MIXED VIEWS ON BURMA RELIEF EFFORTS 
 
REF: KL 363 HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE TO CYCLONE NARGIS 
 
 ¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  Elements of the Malaysian mainstream 
media, civil society and the political opposition have 
harshly condemned the refusal of the Burmese regime to allow 
in international relief teams and its insistence on going 
ahead with the May 10 referendum.  Government officials, 
however, continue to put a much more positive spin on the 
behavior of the Burmese junta, and there are no indications 
that the GOM intends to abandon its traditional 
"non-interference" stance in regard to Burma.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) In a May 14 editorial the New Straits Times (which 
faithfully follows the ruling coalition line on domestic 
political issues but sometimes reports more independently on 
foreign developments) harshly criticized the "stubborn 
paranoia" of a Burmese regime "more concerned with garnering 
approval for its farcical  referendum,," than with allowing 
help to reach its citizens.  The NST went so far as to raise 
the issue of the UN,s "responsibility to protect" concept. 
The Malay-language Utusan Malaysia also condemned the 
junta,s "arrogance" in a May 13 editorial and local internet 
blogs have conveyed strong criticism of the Burmese 
authorities.  The official news agency Bernama, however, has 
confined its reports primarily to quoting the more positive 
assessments of GOM officials. 
 
¶3.  (U) On May 14 Parliamentary opposition leader Wan Azizah, 
who is also vice president of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary 
Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), tabled a motion for an emergency 
debate in regard to the Government using political influence 
and diplomatic channels to persuade the Burmese junta and 
accept humanitarian assistance.  She had earlier tabled a 
motion calling on the GOM to persuade the Burmese regime to 
defer the May 10 referendum.  In a May 12 statement rejecting 
that motion, Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia asserted 
that the issue did not qualify as "urgent" and that it was 
not right for Malaysia to meddle in the internal affairs of 
another country.   Lim Kit Siang of the opposition Democratic 
Action Party (DAP), who has been active in AIPMC, has 
strongly criticized ASEAN,s reaction to the Burma crisis, 
maintained that the organization,s inaction "makes a total 
mockery of the charter" and advocating that ASEAN persuade 
the junta to open up or "face censure and possibly 
suspension."   AIPMC Vice President Wan Azizah also addressed 
a letter to the Burmese ambassador to Malaysia critical of 
the decision to proceed with the referendum. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) GOM officials continue to put a positive spin on 
the behavior of the Burmese regime.  Quoting the Malaysian 
ambassador in Rangoon, Bernama reported on May 13 that 
"contrary to Western media reports that Myanmar was refusing 
to accept humanitarian aid from abroad" a planeload of 
Malaysian relief supplies (reftel) along with a team of 
Malaysian representatives, had been "welcomed" by Burmese 
officials.  As of May 14, however, the Malaysian delegation, 
consisting of military, Red Crescent, National Security 
Council, MFA, and Health Ministry personnel, reportedly has 
not been permitted to travel outside Rangoon.  A Special 
Malaysia Disaster and Rescue (SMART) team was formed and made 
preparations to fly to Burma, but the Burmese reportedly have 
told the GOM they do not need such a team.   The Malaysian 
NGOs Salam and Nature Aid Foundation have both been stymied 
in their efforts to obtain Burma,s permission to enter the 
country.  Salam chairman Razali Ismail, the former UN Special 
Envoy to Burma, said he was "shocked" at the junta,s 
attitude, which could lead to huge loss of life.  PM 
Abdullah,s son-in-law and close advisor Khairy Jamaluddin 
gently admonished the Burmese regime in May 12 remarks to 
Parliament, expressing hope that international assistance 
would reach the Burmese people without obstacles. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Ambassador and country team members continue to 
raise the need for urgent humanitarian action in Burma with 
Malaysian senior officials and politicians from both the 
ruling and opposition coalitions. 
 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000387  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶6.   (SBU) Comment:  While as indicated above some domestic 
political sentiment does exist for a more activist GOM role 
on Burma, we see no indications that the GOM intends to 
abandon its traditional "non-interference" stance. 
 
 
KEITH