MALAYSIA -- TERRORISM REPORT 2007 DRAFT

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001729 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT, EAP, DS, INR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA -- TERRORISM REPORT 2007 DRAFT REF: STATE 145833 ¶1. (SBU) The draft text of Malaysia's 2007 Terrorism Report is provided in paragraph 2. This text has been posted to Intellipedia: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/ East Asia and Pacific Terrorism Reports#Malaysia ¶2. (SBU) Begin text: Malaysia New provisions to Malaysia's Penal Code and Criminal Procedures Code came into effect in March 2007. They include clearer definitions of terrorism and related crimes and penalties including the death penalty or life in prison for terrorist-related crimes. The police forces in Malaysia continue to conduct all counterterrorist investigations and operations. Malaysian police fall under the authority of the Ministry of Internal Security, which is headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. To date, no suspected terrorists have been brought to trial under either the new or previous legal provisions. Terrorist suspects continue to be held in detention under the country's Internal Security Act (ISA), where they undergo a program of rehabilitation. Two-year ISA sentences can be renewed if the Malaysian Government determines that a detainee remains a threat to national security. On average, the Malaysian government has held suspected terrorists and suspected terrorist supporters in ISA detention for two to six years. Amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act, the Subordinate Courts Act, and the Courts of Judicature Act also came into effect in March. These provisions provide for the forfeiture of terrorist-related assets, allow for the prosecution of those who materially support terrorists, and expand surveillance of suspects. The Financial Action Task Force/Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (FATF/APG) conducted a Mutual Evaluation of Malaysia in February. While otherwise in compliance, FATF found ineffective enforcement of Malaysian laws on the import and export of cash. The Government of Malaysia responded by setting up an interagency task force to issue recommendations to bring Malaysia into compliance with international standards. The Malaysian government engaged with its neighbors on issues related to counterterrorism and transnational crime. It continued to operate the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Counterterrorism (SEARCCT),which conducts training for Malaysian officials and to a lesser extent for officials from countries in the region. Malaysian mediators continued to work in the southern Philippines to help end the conflict between the Philippines government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Malaysian authorities worked with counterparts in Thailand on strengthening border security in light of the insurgency in southern Thailand involving the ethnic Malays. With the "Eyes in Sky" program, Malaysian military forces worked with Singapore and Indonesia to provide enhanced security to the Straits of Malacca, the world's busiest shipping lane. This year, Malaysia's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) signed memoranda of understanding on the sharing of financial intelligence with the FIUs of the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the Republic of Chile. Malaysia's FIU provided training and evaluation assistance throughout the region. At the end of June, Malaysia's accession to the UN Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism came in to force. End text. KEITH