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166455 MDHIAN 1157
HKB 020/3
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FM KUALA LUMPUR
TO DESKBY 29093OZ FCO
TELNO 47
OF 29085OZ JANUARY 91
INFO PRIORITY MODUK, HM TREASURY, JHQ HIGH WYCOMBE
MODUK FOR SEC(O) (C)
HMT FOR FELLGETT
8
YOUR TELNO 26: GULF CRISIS: FINANCIAL BURDEN SHARING
1 I SEE NO LIKELIHOOD OF THE MALAYSIANS BEING PREPARED TO MAKE ANY
CONTRIBUTION SPECIFICALLY TO THE MILITARY COSTS OF THE IRAQ OPERATION. AS YOU SAY, THEIR POSITION HAS BEEN REVISED SINCE THEY VOTED FOR UN SCR 678, AND THEY NOW TAKE THE VIEW THAT THE ATTACK ON
IRAQ IS CAUSING MORE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIFE AND DAMAGE TO CIVILIAN PROPERTY THAN THE SECURITY COUNCIL ANTICIPATED.
2. THERE IS HOWEVER IN MY JUDGEMENT A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD BE PERSUADED TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO CHARITABLE OR HUMANITARIAN AID, EG TO ASSIST REFUGEES OR EVEN FOR REHABILITATION OF IRAQI POW'S. THE MALAYSIANS HAVE HOWEVER PUT THEMSELVES IN A DOMESTIC POLITICAL SITUATION WHERE THE MONEY WOULD HAVE TO BEE SEEN CLEARLY TO BENEFIT MUSLIMS (PREFERABLY CIVILIANS) WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM THE WAR. THE
REQUEST WOULD I BELIEVE HAVE TO COME FROM AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY. IT MIGHT THEN BE POSSIBLE TO CONSTRUCT A SERIES OF BUDGETARY LINKS
WHEREBY ANY MALAYSIAN CONTRIBUTION RELEASED OTHER ALLIED FINANCE FOR
MILITARY PURPOSES.
3. I AM SORRY I CANNOT HONESTLY GIVE YOU A MORE OPTIMISTIC REPLY. THE FACT IS WE ARE LOSING THE PROPAGANDA WAR HERE, MAINLY THROUGH THE RETICENCE OF OUR ISLAMIC ALLIES. THE GOVERNMENT FOUND ITSELF BADLY OUT OF STEP WITH LOCAL ISLAMIC OPINION, AND HAS ADJUSTED ITS POSITION ACCORDINGLY. EVEN IF THE MALAYSIANS MIGHT HAVE BEEN WILLING TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO MILITARY COSTS EARLIER (ITSELF DOUBTFUL) THEY ARE NOW
STUCK WITH THE LOGIC OF THEIR NEW POSITION.
THORPE
YYYY
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