Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUALALUMPUR1198
2007-07-25 09:09:00
SECRET
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:
IRAN SANCTIONS: URGING MALAYSIA TO PRIORITIZE
how-toVZCZCXRO1806 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKL #1198 2060909 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 250909Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9710 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0111 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1026
S E C R E T KUALA LUMPUR 001198
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/RA AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2027
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP IR MY
SUBJECT: IRAN SANCTIONS: URGING MALAYSIA TO PRIORITIZE
UNSCR IMPLEMENTATION
REF: STATE 101574
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark reasons 1.4 (b and
d).
Concerns Raised with NSC
------------------------
S E C R E T KUALA LUMPUR 001198
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/RA AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2027
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP IR MY
SUBJECT: IRAN SANCTIONS: URGING MALAYSIA TO PRIORITIZE
UNSCR IMPLEMENTATION
REF: STATE 101574
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark reasons 1.4 (b and
d).
Concerns Raised with NSC
--------------
1. (S) DCM and polchief met on July 23 with Malaysia's
National Security Council Secretary Muhammad Hatta and
focused the discussion on the importance of countries
maintaining pressure on Iran to comply with its
nonproliferation obligations, including through
implementation of UNSCR sanctions (reftel). DCM highlighted
that the Iran nuclear issue is a serious matter of national
security for the U.S., as well as a significant concern for
the international community. As such, countries should not
engage in business as usual with Iran. We also looked to
Malaysia to submit reports on its UNSCR 1737/1747
implementation. DCM pointed out incidents, raised with the
GOM over the past year, in which Malaysian companies have
been involved in transshipment of military-related equipment
to Iran or purchased defensive gear from Iran. Polchief
explained that we had not received any substantive response
from the Foreign Ministry on the various Iran-related cases.
2. (S) Muhammad Hatta, who as NSC secretary reports directly
to Prime Minister Abdullah, said he understood U.S. concerns,
and would take seriously any U.S. information on Malaysian
companies violating UN sanctions and U.S. laws. Hatta asked
that the Embassy share any future reports with his office in
addition to the Foreign Ministry. He was unaware of the
status of Malaysia's reports to the UN. Hatta noted
Malaysia's apprehensions over Iran's influence in Muslim
Southeast Asia and the GOM's monitoring of Iranians in
Malaysia. Hasnan Zahedi bin Ahmad Zakaria, Under Secretary
for the National Intelligence Division within the Prime
Minister's Department, joined Hatta in our meeting.
MFA Pressed on Outstanding UN Reports
--------------
3. (S) Polchief spoke July 25 with the Foreign Ministry's
Under Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs, Shahrul
Ikram, and urged the Malaysian government to give priority to
implementing UNSC sanctions against Iran (Shahrul is
responsible for UN political affairs within the MFA).
Polchief said past Iran-related procurement and transshipment
cases involving Malaysian companies resulted in greater U.S.
and international attention to Malaysia's current actions to
uphold the UNSC sanctions. Shahrul confirmed that Malaysia
had yet to submit its 1737/1747 reports to the UNSC. He said
this did not reflect a lack of prioritization, but "speaking
frankly" the delay resulted from a cumbersome multi-agency
coordination process within the GOM bureaucracy. In
addition, Foreign Ministry offices were overtaxed by various
international engagements. Nevertheless, Malaysia intends to
report to the UNSC, Shahrul said.
LAFLEUR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR ISN/RA AND EAP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2027
TAGS: PARM PREL KNNP IR MY
SUBJECT: IRAN SANCTIONS: URGING MALAYSIA TO PRIORITIZE
UNSCR IMPLEMENTATION
REF: STATE 101574
Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark reasons 1.4 (b and
d).
Concerns Raised with NSC
--------------
1. (S) DCM and polchief met on July 23 with Malaysia's
National Security Council Secretary Muhammad Hatta and
focused the discussion on the importance of countries
maintaining pressure on Iran to comply with its
nonproliferation obligations, including through
implementation of UNSCR sanctions (reftel). DCM highlighted
that the Iran nuclear issue is a serious matter of national
security for the U.S., as well as a significant concern for
the international community. As such, countries should not
engage in business as usual with Iran. We also looked to
Malaysia to submit reports on its UNSCR 1737/1747
implementation. DCM pointed out incidents, raised with the
GOM over the past year, in which Malaysian companies have
been involved in transshipment of military-related equipment
to Iran or purchased defensive gear from Iran. Polchief
explained that we had not received any substantive response
from the Foreign Ministry on the various Iran-related cases.
2. (S) Muhammad Hatta, who as NSC secretary reports directly
to Prime Minister Abdullah, said he understood U.S. concerns,
and would take seriously any U.S. information on Malaysian
companies violating UN sanctions and U.S. laws. Hatta asked
that the Embassy share any future reports with his office in
addition to the Foreign Ministry. He was unaware of the
status of Malaysia's reports to the UN. Hatta noted
Malaysia's apprehensions over Iran's influence in Muslim
Southeast Asia and the GOM's monitoring of Iranians in
Malaysia. Hasnan Zahedi bin Ahmad Zakaria, Under Secretary
for the National Intelligence Division within the Prime
Minister's Department, joined Hatta in our meeting.
MFA Pressed on Outstanding UN Reports
--------------
3. (S) Polchief spoke July 25 with the Foreign Ministry's
Under Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs, Shahrul
Ikram, and urged the Malaysian government to give priority to
implementing UNSC sanctions against Iran (Shahrul is
responsible for UN political affairs within the MFA).
Polchief said past Iran-related procurement and transshipment
cases involving Malaysian companies resulted in greater U.S.
and international attention to Malaysia's current actions to
uphold the UNSC sanctions. Shahrul confirmed that Malaysia
had yet to submit its 1737/1747 reports to the UNSC. He said
this did not reflect a lack of prioritization, but "speaking
frankly" the delay resulted from a cumbersome multi-agency
coordination process within the GOM bureaucracy. In
addition, Foreign Ministry offices were overtaxed by various
international engagements. Nevertheless, Malaysia intends to
report to the UNSC, Shahrul said.
LAFLEUR