VZCZCXRO3612
RR RUEHBC RUEHCHI RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDT RUEHGI RUEHHM RUEHJS RUEHKUK
RUEHLH RUEHNH RUEHPW RUEHROV
DE RUEHKL #0738/01 2320606
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190606Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1513
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000738 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL MY
SUBJECT: PAS REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR OPPOSITION ALLIANCE 
 
REF: KL 665 UMNO-PAS TALKS PROVOKE CONTROVERSY 
 
Summary 
 ------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) In its annual convention, the Malaysian Islamic 
Party confirmed continuing support for the opposition 
alliance despite the recent PAS &dialogue8 with the ruling 
coalition,s United Malay National Organization (UMNO).  PAS 
leaders predictably condemned U.S. actions in Iraq and 
Afghanistan but reiterated the party,s stand against 
terrorism.  There was a clear divide among PAS delegates over 
the issue of talks with UMNO and in the end delegates 
supported a proposal for 8informal8 dialogues with UMNO 
confined to issues relating to Islam. End Summary. 
 
PAS 54th Annual Convention: &PAS for All8 
---------------------------------------- 
¶2. (U) Malaysian Islamic Party PAS held its annual convention 
from August 15 thru 17, meeting for the first time in the 
opposition -controlled state of Perak. Poloffs attended the 
opening ceremony, along with diplomats from Singapore, 
Australia and Sweden. Several foreign Islamic party 
representatives were in attendance, including Dr. Amman Said 
of Jordan,s Muslim Brotherhood, Amir Hidayah of Indonesia,s 
Prosperous Justice Party (PKSI), Man Kutrunus from Turkey,s 
Justice and Development Party (AK) Pakistan Jamaat Islami 
Party represntative Qazi Hussain Ahmad, and Haji Abdul 
Ghaffur of the Myanmar Islamic Movement. For the first time 
de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim attended the opening 
ceremony.  Anwar was warmly embraced by those PAS leaders, 
such as PAS think tank director Zulkifi Ahmad, who had 
opposed the party,s talks with UMNO, but more formally 
greeted by those such as PAS electoral chief Mustafa Ali, who 
had promoted the dialogue with UMNO. 
¶3. (U) The traditional opening Koranic reading focused on 
unity between Muslims and non-Muslims, reflecting the theme 
of this year,s convention. In his keynote address, PAS 
leader Hadi Awang reiterated that the Islamic party has 
always promoted the concept of universal justice transcending 
racial and national boundaries, looked after the welfare of 
non-Muslims and strongly supported the role of the UN in 
ensuring a peaceful world.  Turning to domestic politics, the 
party leader stressed that PAS will not be taken for granted 
by coalition partners who may take advantage of the Islamic 
party,s far superior grassroots network during elections and 
but ignore the party after the elections. He also took a dig 
at UMNO,s move to create  a state within a state, by 
appointing pro-UMNO village heads at the grassroots 
&principally to destabilize8 the new opposition state 
administrations.  The party President advocated the 
establishment of &Chief Ministers Council8 to better 
coordinate relations between the five opposition controlled 
states.  He also touched on the traditional criticisms of the 
ruling coalition on corruption, mismanagement, abuse of 
power, human rights violations and unjust laws. 
 
U.S. Actions Condemned 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Hadi became emotional in addressing international 
issues.  He condemned U.S. &unilateral actions8 in Iraq and 
Afghanistan and lamented the misconceptions of Islam in the 
West, especially in the U.S.  Hadi reiterated PAS, stand 
against terrorism, pointing out that PAS was one of the first 
to condemn the bombing of foreign embassies and the World 
Trade Center in New York, as such acts were against the 
teachings of the Koran. He added, however, that &violence 
begets violence8 and the vicious cycle will go on until the 
UN looks into the root causes of terrorism and violence. As 
an example he cited the Palestinians, who were &victims of 
Zionism.8 He also urged GOM and OIC to immediately recognize 
Kosovo and to look into the International Criminal Court 
(ICC) charges against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, 
which &will not resolve the crisis in Darfur.8  Hadi 
concluded that relations between the West and Islam should 
not be viewed as a clash of civilizations. 
 
Delegates Divided on Talks with UMNO 
------------------------------------ 
¶5.  (SBU) Throughout the three day convention, PAS delegates 
clearly were divided over talks with UMNO (Reftel), with some 
speaking out in support of the dialogue and others 
questioning such contacts with &the enemy.8 In the end 
delegates unanimously approved a resolution endorsing PAS, 
coalition with PR and calling for the opposition alliance to 
be strengthened. They also supported the call for informal 
dialogues with UMNO but only in regard to Islam. Party 
Secretary General Kamaruddin Jaafar told poloffs that 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000738  002 OF 002 
 
 
although there were concerns initially over Pakatan component 
parties treating PAS as a junior partner, delegates felt that 
the party,s future lies with the opposition coalition. 
However, there was a reluctance to offend the powerful Ulama 
(religious leaders) council, a majority of whose  members had 
endorsed the talks with UMNO, so a compromise was reached to 
allow such talks but limit them to issues of Islam. 
Comment 
------- 
¶6. (SBU) The convention clearly endorsed continued PAS 
cooperation with PR with the caveat that the party expects 
not to be taken for granted by its coalition partners.  The 
approval for continued talks with UMNO on religious issues 
could be seen as a warning to the opposition alliance 
partners that PAS has other options if the PR fails to meet 
its needs.  Next year,s party elections could ultimately 
determine the party,s direction in this regard, with 
possible competition shaping up between those who strongly 
support the PR and others who advocate talks with UMNO in the 
name of Malay unity and Islam. End comment. 
 
 
KEITH