EXBS: SE ASIA REGIONAL ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001562

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, ROWEN
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC/AMT LSPRINGER
DEPT FOR EAP/RSP NDEAN, TFORSYTH, AFORSBERG
CBP/INA FOR RWATT
USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY, JMILLER
DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD
JAKARTA FOR YGONZALES, DTURNBULL
MANILA FOR GCOFFIN
SINGAPORE FOR MCLAUSEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP MY
SUBJECT: EXBS: SE ASIA REGIONAL ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING
CABLE SEPTEMBER 2007



I. SUMMARY
The Advisor met with Malaysian Ministry of Finance officials
to discuss an MOU on Megaports, participated in discussions
with officials from the Embassy of Norway on maritime
security in the region, and met with Australian, British,
Canadian, and Malaysian officials to discuss ongoing
counter-terrorism training efforts. The Advisor participated
in Proliferation Awareness Training and a port visit in
Manila. END SUMMARY

II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD

A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD

1. On September 04 the Advisor and ECONOFF met with Mr. Koshy
Thomas, Deputy Secretary, Tax Analysis Division, Malaysian
Ministry of Finance (MOF),to participate in the ongoing
deliberations to secure a Memorandum of Understanding on the
Megaports proposal. Discussion focused on two seemingly
minor points which the MOF wanted either removed completely
or revised greatly, changes which probably would have not
satisfied US legal requirements. ECONOFF and the Advisor
pointed out to the GOM officials that the two plus years of
discussion on the MOU had already delayed the implementation
of the program and asked if the GOM could accept the document
as it stood rather than try to make additional time-
consuming changes. Mr. Thomas said he would take the matter
up with the Minister of Finance and recommend acceptance of
the current language. On October 01 Mr. Thomas informed
ECONOFF that the MOF planned to send the previously agreed
draft MOU to Cabinet for approval, provided no other relevant
Malaysian agencies raised objections before October 27.


2. The Advisor was on Annual Leave from September 05-10.


3. On September 17 the Advisor met with Christian Lyster,
Deputy Chief of Mission for the Norwegian Embassy, to discuss
maritime security in the region and export controls. Mr.
Lyster mentioned that a large number of Norwegian-flagged
vessels use the Strait of Malacca and that they are heavily
involved in the transit and transshipment trade in SE Asia.
Mr. Lyster's predecessor had indicated that the Norwegian
government was considering its options for various assistance
programs to Malaysia, including counter-terrorism (CT) and
export controls; Mr. Lyster confirmed that discussion was
still ongoing.


4. The Advisor met with James Paver, POLOFF at the British
High Commission, on September 19 to discuss the status of
Malaysia's draft export control legislation. Mr. Paver
stated that his High Commission was unable to get any status
report from the Government of Malaysian (GOM) regarding the
draft and that they were looking for ways to engage more
effectively. Mr. Paver also said that the British government
wanted to coordinate their efforts with the US where
Malaysia's export control program was concerned.


5. On September 20 the Advisor introduced Jason Donovan,
Embassy KL-based Coordinator for the Regional Strategic
Initiative, to Ambassador Hussin Nayan, Director General of
the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Counter-Terrorism
(SEARCCT),a GOM entity under the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Items of discussion included SEARCCT's
capacity-building role in the CT arena, public awareness
campaigns, and long-term plans for developing and expanding
SEARCCT. The Advisor continues to work part-time as a
liaison between Embassy KL and SEARCCT on certain CT training
matters.


6. The Advisor participated in a working lunch on September
21 with the POL Counselor, POLOFF, and representatives from
the High Commissions of Australia, Britain, and Canada.
Discussion focused on CT training coordination and export
control programs in Malaysia.

KUALA LUMP 00001562 002 OF 002




7. On September 28 the Advisor participated in a
Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) meeting chaired by the
German Embassy. Officials from SEARCCT gave a brief
presentation on the capacity-building training courses
co-hosted by them over the past three years and appealed to
the CTAG members for additional operational-style training
assistance. A separate discussion was held regarding future
plans to utilize SEARCCT as a training platform and ways to
expand their current role beyond that of a conference
organizer.


8. The Advisor facilitated a meeting on September 28 between
embassy personnel interested in maritime security issues and
Mr. Anders Sjaastad, former Norwegian Minster of Defense, and
Mr. Christian Lyster of the Norwegian Embassy. Mr. Sjaastad
shared background information on Norwegian maritime security
efforts and concerns in the Strait of Malacca and was
interested in US views on recent developments.


B. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD

1. The Advisor participated in Proliferation Awareness
Training (PAT) September 24-27, conducted in Manila by
personnel from the Department of Energy and affiliated
national laboratories. The workshop was co-hosted and
co-organized by the Philippines' Office of the Special Envoy
on Transnational Crime. A total of 31 participants from 15
agencies attended the course, the first EXBS-funded training
conducted in the Philippines. Ms. Rachel Owen from the EXBS
Program office was present for the workshop and led
discussions with Embassy Manila's Deputy Chief of Mission and
ECON Counselor regarding future EXBS programs and engagement
in the Philippines. Following the PAT, a briefing and port
tour of the Manila International Container Terminal was given
to the instructors, Ms. Owen, the Advisor, and several
Embassy Manila personnel.


C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD
NONE


D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE


1. Philippine officials are scheduled to attend UGA's Export
Control Academy in Georgia October 01-05.


2. EXBS-funded bio-terrorism training will be conducted in
Singapore October 03-05 by the Department of Justice.


3. An AP CIT is planned for November 05-07 in Indonesia.


4. Government of Singapore officials are scheduled to attend
RADACAD training November 05-09 in Washington State.


5. Wassenaar Arrangement/National Control List training is
scheduled in Singapore December 04-07.


6. International Seaport Interdiction Training is scheduled
for December 10-14 in the Philippines.


E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS,
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY
None

III. RED FLAG ISSUES
NONE

IV. Questions and comments can be directed to EXBS Program
Advisor Richard Moody, telephone 6-03-2168-4861, fax
6-03-2168-5165, cell phone 6-017-213-1965, and email
moodyrl@state.gov.
KEITH