WIKILEAKS: PM ABDULLAH REGROUPS, REAFFIRMS UMNO ELECTION PLAN

Beginning Sep 22, Opposition personality Anwar Ibrahim's stay circulated dual streams of rumor in what - in a deficiency of some-more report - appears to be a continuation of mental crusade opposite UMNO as well as a National Front (BN) government. On Sep 22, Anwar confidant Khalid Jaafar whispered to us during a reception during a Ambassador's Residence which Anwar would encounter a King upon Sep twenty-three to discuss a parliamentary infancy which Anwar alleges he right away has as well as a arrangement of a brand brand new government.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

C O N F you D E N T you A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000847

SIPDIS

FOR EAP, EAP/MTS AND INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2028

TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, MARR, KDEM, MY

SUBJECT: PM ABDULLAH REGROUPS, REAFFIRMS UMNO ELECTION PLAN

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 833 - SEPT eighteen SETBACK

B. KUALA LUMPUR 821 - ABDULLAH TAKES DEFENSE MINISTRY

C. KUALA LUMPUR 815 - SEPT sixteen ANTI-CLIMAX

D. KUALA LUMPUR 810 - UPROAR OVER ISA

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b as well as d).

Summary as well as Comment

1. (C) Embattled Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi claimed await from state-level officials of his statute United Malays National Organization (UMNO) for his re-nomination as celebration president, in an bid to bounce back after a little inhabitant UMNO leaders upon Sep eighteen urged a PM not to competition in a Dec celebration poll. Subsequently, Abdullah again affirmed his joining to seek reelection! togethe r with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, whilst other sen! ior UMNO leaders reiterated calls for Abdullah to step down.

On Sep 22, Anwar's stay widespread headlines which a Opposition personality would encounter a King a following day; you have no report to suggest such a assembly took place. PM Abdullah pronounced reports which he was in indirect talks with Opposition personality Anwar Ibrahim over a send of energy were "rubbish;" Anwar also issued a public rejection as well as advocated caution.

2. (C) Comment: Rapidly coming a Muslim holiday duration beginning Oct 1-2, as well as a Oct 9 begin of a party's divisional meetings, a UMNO care predicament remains critical as well as unresolved. Reports of Anwar Ibrahim assembly a King or opening up a third-party channel to come to terms with PM Abdullah do not crop up credible.

Anwar's many recent pronouncements receptive to advice a cautious tone as well as equivocate environment deadlines for bringing down Abdullah's government, as well as it is misleading how far Anwar Ibrahim can push his agenda before a finish of September. End Summary as well as Comment.

Abdullah Claims State-Level Backing

3. (SBU) PM Abdullah trafficked to Perak as well as Kelantan states as well as hold meetings with a little UMNO state-level leaders over a Sep 20-21 weekend in an try to regroup await for his re-nomination as UMNO boss following his setback in a exhilarated UMNO Supreme Council assembly upon Sep 18.

(Note: Some prominent UMNO inhabitant leaders during a Sep eighteen assembly reportedly warned Abdullah he would not get enough nominations from a UMNO celebration groups as well as urged him not to seek reelection in a Dec celebration polls, ref A. End Note.)

On Sep 23, Abdullah hold a late night assembly with a UMNO relationship chiefs from 9 states, with Johor, Sabah as well as Teraengganu not represented (! along wi th Sarawak, which does not have an UMNO branch).

Following a meeting, a senior aide to Abdullah told reporters which a Prime Minister! had rec eived a clever endorsement of a party's state chiefs for his passing from one to another plan, which involves PM Abdullah as well as DPM Najib's reelection in December, as well as send of energy from Abdullah to Najib by June 2010. Other UMNO participants in a assembly remarkable a "unanimous" preference in favor of a 2010 passing from one to another plan.

4. (C) Comment: By going to a state level, as well as reporting clever endorsement from state leaders, Abdullah sought to counter criticism from inhabitant leaders which he would not receive enough backing for his reelection. State relationship chiefs have been allocated by a celebration boss -- Abdullah -- as well as to illustrate largely beholden to him, but they also practice important political energy between their particular state's celebration divisions. End Comment.

5. (SBU) After superfluous awkwardly quiet upon Sep 19, a Prime Minister's spin machine handling through a mainstream media as well as a little on-line headlines portals, like The Malaysian Insider, started up again upon Sep 20.

Reporting from supervision sources as well as associated commentary validated which Abdullah was relocating ahead with a joint sheet with Najib, as well as which a passing from one to another devise remained upon lane as well as was not likely to be derailed.

Open UMNO Split Continues

6. (SBU) As Abdullah validated his passing from one to another devise as well as goal to seek reelection, senior UMNO leaders Muhyiddin Yassin as well as Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah adamantly stuck to their positions which Abdullah should step down by December. On Sep 23, Razaleigh issued a extensive defamation of UMNO's undemocratic energy governing body as well as a party's disaster to reform: "We cannot afford to concede these unfort! unate tr ends to play out their mortal march whilst you suffer a de facto care vacuum..." (full content forwarded to EAP/MTS).

DPM Najib, who departs a dusk of Sep twenty-four for a UN General Assembly, largely avoided comment, stuff oneself local perceptions which he is attempting to keep a little room op! en to re ceive celebration nominations for president, possibly with Muhyiddin as his number two.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir continued his attacks opposite Abdullah, as well as heaped censure upon Najib for facilitating Abdullah's continuation in office.

Opposition Rumors; Anwar's Caution

7. (C) Beginning Sep 22, Opposition personality Anwar Ibrahim's stay circulated dual streams of rumor in what - in a deficiency of some-more report - appears to be a continuation of mental crusade opposite UMNO as well as a National Front (BN) government. On Sep 22, Anwar confidant Khalid Jaafar whispered to us during a reception during a Ambassador's Residence which Anwar would encounter a King upon Sep twenty-three to discuss a parliamentary infancy which Anwar alleges he right away has as well as a arrangement of a brand brand new government.

Other rumors of Anwar assembly with a King as well as other Royals persist in Kuala Lumpur.

8. (C) On Sep 23, Tian Chua, Anwar's report chief, publicly voiced which a Opposition had opened negotiations with Prime Minister Abdullah through a third-party channel. PM Abdullah rught away dismissed this claim, calling it "rubbish."

Anwar later issued a statement referring to Tian Chua's remarks as "misinformed." Avoiding environment any brand brand new deadlines for toppling a government, Anwar in his statement said, "We will proceed cautiously towards our goals as well as you agree conjunction to be annoyed in to reckless action nor to take an irresponsible approach which would lead to instability as well as larger uncertainty in a country."

(Comment: Earlier upon Sep 23, a GOM confirmed! dual ye ars detention but hearing underneath a Internal Security Act for controversial blogger Raja Petra, septel. Opposition leaders go on to discuss it us which they seek to equivocate creating a pretext for a supervision to detain them underneath a ISA. End Comment.)

RAPSON


Courtesy of Bonology.com Politically Incorrect Buzz & Buzz

No comments: