TRILATERAL COUNTERTERRORISM MEETING, APRIL 18

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUALA LUMPUR 000878

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR S/CT AND DS/T/ATA
SINGAPORE FOR MATT SPELSBERG, ICE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2027
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL MY
SUBJECT: TRILATERAL COUNTERTERRORISM MEETING, APRIL 18

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 458

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David B. Shear, reasons 1.4 b an
d d.

Summary
--------------


1. (C) DCM chaired an April 18 meeting with Japanese and
Australian counterparts on trilateral counterterrorism
cooperation, the second such meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The
delegations discussed the potential for trilateral
cooperation in Malaysia and possible recommendations to be
presented for consideration at the June Ambassadorial level
meeting in Sydney, Australia. All sides agree that the
trilateral forum is a useful venue to coordinate CT activity
in Malaysia, although host government sensitivities to
multilateral activity and disparate interests place limits on
joint action in the near term. End Summary.

U.S. Hosts Latest Trilat
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2. (SBU) On April18 , DCM chaired our latest meeting with
Japanese and Australian counterparts on trilateral
counterterrorism cooperation. The meeting followed
discussions hosted by the Australian DCM in January (reftel).
Canberra has charged the Australian High Commission with
developing concrete proposals for trilateral action in
Malaysia ahead of the Ambassadorial level meeting scheduled
for June in Sydney.

Update on Bilateral Efforts
--------------


3. (SBU) The U.S. side provided a brief update on the Border
Control Assistance Initiative (BCAI) that had a team
consisting of Embassy and U.S.-based participants in the
field to evaluate border security issues in Eastern Sabah in
January/February. It was noted that the Malaysian Government
provided considerable support to the team in its examination
of port operations in Tawau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu but
otherwise considerably restricted the visit. We explained
that offices in Washington are taking the lead in drafting a
report on the assessments conducted in Malaysia, Indonesia
and the Philippines that should lead to recommendations on
how the U.S. might assist in building host nation capacity in
the Sulu and Sulawesi Sea area. We offered to make those
findings available to Japanese and Australian counterparts as
appropriate.


4. (SBU) Japan offered an update on their bilateral training
program with Malaysia. Events included a vessel boarding
course and exercise with the MMEA that took place in Japan.
Australia discussed a recent export control seminar that
received robust participation by the Malaysian government and
demonstrated that they have the technical ability to move
forward in that area. Through APEC, they recently conducted
a charities abuse course and have various events schedules
through the Southeast Asian Centre for Counterterrorism
(SEARCCT).

Ideas for Moving Forward
--------------


5. (SBU) Joint document examination training represents one
of the most promising areas for trilateral action. All three
countries currently have related training programs that are
attended by Malaysian officials and recent statements by
Malaysian Immigration and Home affairs officials have
indicated their desire to receive more training opportunities
for their border control personnel. The three sides agreed
to look more closely at the working level at possibilities
for cooperation in the areas of law enforcement and
non-proliferation. Money laundering courses and industry
outreach programs related to export controls were mentioned
as potential areas for collaboration.

SEARCCT
--------------


6. (SBU) In leading the discussion on SEARCCT, we spoke about
the general success of SEARCCT as a conference organizer but
noted its lack of progress in fulfilling two of its stated
mission goals: research and terrorism public awareness.
Statements to U.S. officials by the center's leadership have
suggested that SEARCCT remained committed to the ideas, yet

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no action has been taken to advance them. In an attempt to
initiate progress, the U.S. provided SEARCCT's library with
$20 thousand in research equipment and materials.
Additionally, U.S. military public affairs officers met with
the center last year to discuss counter-extremism.


7. (C) Australian diplomats provided a dim view on the
willingness and ability of SEARCCT to make progress in these
areas. They reported that the center had thus far resisted
attempts to engage in counter-radicalization issues and
suggested that future programs would be limited to
advancement within the government of Prime Minister Badawi's
Islam Hadhari principles. The U.S. side also made reference
to recent difficulties in coordinating courses with SEARCCT.
In previous discussions with U.S. embassy staff, the
Australians reported that SEARCCT withdrew sponsorship of an
APEC charities abuse course following complaints that the
examples of Muslim charities too prominently figured in the
exercise. The Australians indicated they would use a planned
meeting with the SEARCCT Director General to probe further on
the center's plans to expand its role and to address their
concerns on course planning.

MMEA
--------------


8. (SBU) The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is
charged with assuming the maritime law enforcement role but
is severely lacking in manpower and equipment. The Japanese
Coast Guard has seconded an officer to MMEA headquarters and
maintains a Coast Guard Attach at its embassy. A Japanese
embassy official provided a brief outlining the agency's
deficiencies and the Japanese government's efforts to provide
training, expertise and some equipment. However, he noted
that Malaysia has the ability to adequately fund MMEA if it
follows through with funding articulated in the latest
five-year development plan. For the time being, the Japanese
believe donor nations should focus their assistance efforts
on capacity-building for MMEA personnel, rather than
equipment and physical infrastructure.


9. (C) The Australians described the recent visit to
Australia of MMEA Commander Admiral Nik who met with senior
Australian military, customs and border protection officials.
During the visit, Nik was frank about the substantial need
for development and improvement with his agency. He
reportedly commented on the generally poor state of the
officers and equipment that MMEA obtained from the navy and
marine police during its creation and said he needed to
create a culture of professionalism within MMEA. Australia
is working with MMEA on an MOU to facilitate future training
and exercises though Nik indicated during his visit that MMEA
would only be prepared to accept training in the near term.


11. (SBU) The U.S. has attempted to increase the interaction
between the MMEA and the U.S. Coast Guard and we are
assisting the Director General's visit to USCG training
facilities. We reported on the first boarding and planning
courses with MMEA personnel that have been scheduled for
later this year and on the agency's participation in 2007
CARAT exercises. We indicated our desire to gain an accurate
picture of MMEA's capabilities and needs, and the three sides
agreed to explore the possibility of undertaking a joint
assessment and developing trilateral training courses.

Comments
--------------


12. (C) The trilateral meetings and frequent, informal
exchanges have led to good coordination between Australia,
Japan and ourselves related to counterterrorism assistance in
Malaysia. We intend to continue this trilateral approach.
Finding concrete programs where we can work trilaterally in
Malaysia, however, faces several challenges. First, the
Malaysian government remains reluctant to engage in
multilateral efforts, particularly outside of ASEAN or UN
auspices. Second, the area of greatest interest from the
perspective of the U.S. and Australia is the
Malaysia/Indonesia/Philippines triborder area, a location
where Malaysia views with suspicion most outside involvement.
Third, the Japanese view their security interests in
Malaysia as firmly fixed in the Straits of Malacca and direct
their security assistance, including CT-related assets and
training, accordingly. Attempts to engage Japanese
counterparts in initiatives in the Sulu/Sulawesi seas area
have been largely unsuccessful. Given these constraints, the
three missions are likely to find greatest short and

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medium-term success in coordination of their bilateral CT
efforts, rather than pursuing trilateral activities. In the
trilateral forum we will continue to work on incremental
steps with the Malaysian government toward multilateral and
regional efforts.
LAFLEUR