DCM RAISES VENEZUELA, AMCITS' DETENTION WITH NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 002196 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS, CA/OCS/ACS AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV CASC ASEC VE MY SUBJECT: DCM RAISES VENEZUELA, AMCITS' DETENTION WITH NEW MFA AMERICAS UNDER SECRETARY REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1634 - MALAYSIA SUPPORTS VENEZUELA UNSC BID ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 1618 - CHAVEZ VISITS MALAYSIA Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION DAVID B. SHEAR, REASONS 1.4 (B A ND D). ¶1. (C) The DCM and polchief paid an introductory call on the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's new Under Secretary for the Americas, Ambassador Ramlan Ibrahim, on November 30. Ramlan said he saw opportunities to further strengthen ties with the U.S. based on the strong personal relationship between President Bush and Prime Minister Abdullah. The DCM asked about the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Venezuela (currently scheduled for December 17-20) and suggested that Washington would take note of political statements made jointly by Abdullah and Venezuelan President Chavez. Ramlan said the Prime Minister's visit to Venezuela was essentially an economic mission, not a political one, and that a large number of Malaysian business leaders would accompany Abdullah. Malaysia eyed trade and investment opportunities in Venezuela and elsewhere in South America. Ramlan added that Chavez had visited Kuala Lumpur four times, while this would be Abdullah's first trip to Caracas. ¶2. (SBU) The DCM took the opportunity to raise the November 16-17 detention of two Amcits who had been rounded up in Kuala Lumpur in a sweep of suspected illegal immigrants from Africa. The Embassy formally protested the incident of apparent racial profiling in a November 29 diplomatic note. The DCM reiterated our expectation that Malaysian authorities treat American citizens in a lawful manner. Ramlan said he would take up the issue within the Ministry. He asked for understanding of Malaysia's problem with the huge number of illegal immigrants ("like in America") and noted that ill-trained enforcement personnel often were involved in such sweeps. ¶3. (SBU) Biographic note: Ramlan Ibrahim is a 23-year veteran of the Malaysian diplomatic service with polished English language skills. His postings included Indonesia, the Netherlands, and Croatia. He was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore, 2001-04, and Ambassador to Bosnia Herzegovina from 2004 until assuming his current post. His resume lists a master's degree in international relations from Webster University (1993),which he may have obtained from the university's Netherlands campus. Ramlan told us he had never visited Washington, but looked forward to doing so soon. LAFLEUR