Malaysia Intends to Participate in ASEAN Regional Forum

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 001100 SIPDIS EAP/RSP FOR KSHEIVES EAP/MTS FOR DBISHOF PASS TO USAID/OFDA FOR JMENSEL PASS TO PACOM J71 FOR SMELLINGER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV MARR MY SUBJECT: Malaysia Intends to Participate in ASEAN Regional Forum Voluntary Demonstration of Response Exercise REF: A. STATE 122937 ¶1. National Security Council (NSC) Undersecretary for the Crisis and Disaster Management Division Mr. Che Moin bin Umar told ESTHOff on December 16 that the Malaysian government intends to participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum's Voluntary Demonstration of Response (VDR) exercise to be held in the Philippines in May 2009. The government of Malaysia (GOM) will convene an interagency committee to determine who will be the national focal point and which agencies will send representatives to participate in the exercise. The interagency committee will include the National Security Council, Ministry of Defense, Prime Minister's Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. Che Moin also informed ESTHoff that the National Security Council expects to take the lead for the VDR, as it is the focal point for crisis and disaster management within Malaysia. ¶2. ESTHOff also coordinated on the VDR with Philippine Embassy Political Attach Juan Perez. Perez confirmed, based on discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' ASEAN Division, that the Malaysian government will "definitely" participate in the VDR exercises. ¶3. Post will forward further information on Malaysia's focal point and list of participants to the VDR exercise soon as it is received. KEITH