Border Control Assessment Initiative (BCAI) Initial Team

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001862 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/ATA, EAP/MTS, S/CT SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL MARR MY SUBJECT: Border Control Assessment Initiative (BCAI) Initial Team Visit to Kuala Lumpur - September 21 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A U.S. team held initial consultations on September 21 with nine Malaysian government maritime security agencies as a first step in the Border Control Assessment Initiative (BCAI) in Malaysia. The GOM representatives provided broad overviews of their activities, including in the eastern Malaysia state of Sabah, and outlined some general areas for potential U.S. assistance. The Embassy is pursuing Malaysian government concurrence for the BCAI team's visit to Sabah proposed for November 25-December 2. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) The initial Border Control Assessment Initiative (BCAI) coordination meeting with the Government of Malaysia (GOM) took place September 21 at the National Security Division (NSD) within the Prime Minister's Department in the administrative capital Putrajaya. Abdul Rahim Hussin, the NSD's Marine Security Policy Director, led the GOM side with 17 Malaysian participants from the following agencies: National Security Division (Prime Minister's Department),Royal Malaysia Police, Royal Malaysia Marine Police, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, Royal Malaysian Customs, Immigration Department of Malaysia, Maritime Enforcement Coordination Center, Marine Department of Malaysia, and Ministry of Internal Security. ¶3. (SBU) Polcouns and the DS/ATA team leader led the U.S. side, with participation by the State Department Senior Coast Guard Advisor, Department of Homeland Security representatives from Embassy Singapore (ICE and CBP),and Embassy's Defense Attache, Office of Defense Cooperation Chief, and Anti-Terrorism Assistance Coordinator. U.S. participants discussed the basic concepts of the proposed BCAI, USG views of the maritime and border security situation in the Sulu/Sulawesi sea region, and potential areas of cooperation and assistance in the region. ¶4. (SBU) The U.S. team explained that our effort focused on finding ways the U.S. could assist Malaysia to increase its own capacity to protect its borders in eastern Sabah. We noted that a U.S. team would also analyze needs in the Philippines and Indonesia. However, this did not constitute a new multilateral mechanism. Our effort and potential assistance to Malaysia would be carried out on a bilateral basis. The team assured the GOM officials that the U.S. had no preconceived solutions or quick fixes in mind. Only through a collaborative effort would the needs analysis produce the desired results. Transnational crime issues are intermingled with maritime security and counter-terrorism issues in the region and an effective, well-executed BCAI would address important aspects of the situation. While focused on needs in Sabah, potential U.S. assistance, such as training, might also find application to border control security elsewhere in Malaysia. ¶5. (SBU) The various GOM agency briefings focused on their respective missions, areas of responsibilities, capabilities, and resources. GOM briefers emphasized their government's security initiatives in Sabah in recent years (dating back to the ASG kidnappings of 2000); the amount of central government resources invested in security in Sabah; and the GOM position that Sabah currently enjoyed a good security environment, unlike neighboring territories in Indonesia and the Philippines. The GOM officials raised possible areas of assistance in general terms. The U.S. team noted that some of the Malaysian requirements could be addressed by 1206 funding and the BCAI could help identify additional areas where the USG might provide assistance. Three areas of potential assistance identified by the GOM in the meeting were additional capacity building courses, small/fast boats, and more sharing of intelligence, particularly real-time intelligence. ¶6. (SBU) The U.S. team explained the importance of the field portion of the analysis, which might be carried out in late November subject to GOM concurrence. (Note: The GOM's initial response to BCAI only approved the Kuala Lumpur phase of the BCAI.) The GOM team stated that this request would be addressed through Foreign Ministry channels. ¶7. (SBU) Comment: The GOM officials appeared generally receptive to U.S. bilateral assistance in this area and interested in learning more about what the U.S. could offer. Interaction between the U.S. team and the GOM officials was positive. Embassy Kuala Lumpur is following up with the Foreign Ministry in order to seek GOM approval for the Sabah field portion of the BCAI. Based on consultations with the Department, the Embassy has proposed November 25-December 2 as the timeframe for the Sabah field visit. SHEAR