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