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OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0979/01 3101106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 051106Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1920
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000979 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP AND EAP/MTS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON KDEM KPAO MY
SUBJECT: INITIAL MALAYSIAN REACTION TO U.S. PRESIDENTIAL 
ELECTION 
 
Summary and Comment 
------------------- 
 
¶1.  (U) The U.S. presidential election result attracted major 
attention and immediate reactions in Malaysia on November 5. 
Foreign Minister Rais promptly issued a Malay language 
statement noting that Senator Obama's victory brings new 
possibilities in the bilateral relationship, and expressed 
hope that the new U.S. administration respects national 
sovereignty and does not prioritize force in dealing with 
global problems.  International Trade and Industry Minister 
Muhyiddin called for the incoming administration to play a 
critical role in resolving the international financial 
crisis, while questioning whether the U.S. would adopt 
protectionist measures.  Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim 
expressed "admiration" for Senator Obama and said Malaysia 
could learn something from the election of a racial minority, 
but stated he disagreed with Obama's Middle East positions. 
The Embassy hosted a well-attended election event, 
extensively covered by local media, with hundreds of 
Malaysian, diplomatic, and American citizen guests watching 
the conclusion of the U.S. election. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Comment:  The immediate Malaysian government and 
political reaction to the U.S. election results has been 
congratulatory and positive, with an undertone of caution and 
implied criticism of current U.S. policy.  The initial 
Malaysian comments appeared geared foremost to the domestic 
audience.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
Foreign Minister's Statement 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) Foreign Minister Rais Yatim released a one-page Malay 
language statement on the "Victory of Barack Obama in the 
U.S. Presidential Election" several hours after the election 
results were broadcast in Malaysia the afternoon of November 
5 local time.  The Foreign Minister stated that, "Obama's 
victory is seen as bringing change and positive values in 
international relations....  Malaysia also welcomes his 
victory as a new beacon in the struggle to fulfill the 
demands of democracy....  Obama's victory brings about 
numerous new possibilities in international relations 
especially in U.S.-Malaysia bilateral relations in years to 
come.  Malaysia will continue to maintain and increase the 
mutual harmonious relations with the new American 
administration." 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The statement concluded by expressing hope that the 
Obama Administration would act "with more respect for the 
sovereignty of small nations" and "not prioritize power and 
force as tools to resolve various global problems." 
(Comment:  FM Rais' comment on sovereignty echoes his remarks 
before the UN General Assembly in September in which he 
called for respect of Malaysia's sovereignty, widely seen as 
a reference to U.S. public remarks regarding rule of law in 
Malaysia's on-going prosecution of Opposition leader Anwar 
Ibrahim.  End Comment.) 
 
¶5.  (U) Minister for International Trade and Industry 
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, speaking with reporters, offered 
congratulations to Senator Obama and said, "we would like to 
see America not only playing an important role but a critical 
role, particularly in trade with developing countries like 
(Malaysia)."  Muhyiddin went on to say that, "Our concern is 
the economic and international crisis.  The U.S. is faced 
with the most severe financial crisis.  We want to see 
whether America under Obama will adopt a pro-protectionist 
policy to safeguard its domestic interests like employment, 
job creation, investment and businesses." 
 
¶6.  (U) The Foreign Ministry informed us that Prime Minister 
Abdullah would write to Senator Obama and transmit the 
congratulatory letter via Embassy Kuala Lumpur on October 6. 
 
Opposition Leader's Remarks 
--------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Anwar Ibrahim, speaking to journalists in 
Parliament in the hours after the U.S. election result, 
reportedly said, "I know it is not easy to say anything 
positive about America, at least not in Malaysia, 
particularly not the way the media has been portraying me (as 
beholden to the U.S.)...But (Obama's) strength... is that he 
is prepared to engage.  And this is very critical for the 
U.S."  Anwar said that while disagreed with some of Senator 
 
KUALA LUMP 00000979  002 OF 002 
 
 
Obama's foreign policy positions, noting that "some of his 
views regarding the Middle East conflict are quite 
disturbing," Anwar nevertheless had "great admiration for him 
personally."  The Opposition leader stated that Obama, 
"represents the face that is willing to engage and have a 
meaningful dialogue...."  In a reference to Malaysia's 
largely race-based politics dominated by the ethnic Malay 
majority, Anwar described as a "healthy and welcome trend" 
the situation in which "you have a black and minority leading 
as an American and not as a black person.  We should learn 
from this." 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  Anwar made his comments against the 
backdrop of the National Front government's frequent efforts 
to portray the Opposition leader as a U.S. puppet.  Anwar's 
coalition includes the Islamist PAS party that has been 
highly critical of perceived U.S. policy in the Muslim world. 
 End Comment. 
 
U.S. Embassy Event Well Attended, Extensive Media Coverage 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) By the afternoon of November 5, most online versions 
of local Malaysian newspapers posted wire stories describing 
Obama's victory in the U.S. election.  Local TV news networks 
covered the conclusion of the election from the ballroom of 
the Renaissance Hotel, where Embassy Kuala Lumpur held a 
large event to watch the returns along with hundreds of 
invited guests.  Ambassador Keith was interviewed extensively 
by multiple local media outlets.  National news agency 
Bernama provided live feed from the U.S. Embassy event 
throughout the morning of November 5, as polls closed and CNN 
projections came in declaring Senator Obama to be the winner. 
KEITH