TIP REPORT DELIVERED TO MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000481 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP -- RUTH KURZBAUER, AND G/TIP -- SALLY NEUMANN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI KWMN MY SUBJECT: TIP REPORT DELIVERED TO MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT REF: A. STATE 58461 - MALAYSIA TIP REPORT DEMARCHE ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 448 - AMBASSADOR MEETS WOMEN'S MINISTER ¶1. (SBU) Post delivered the Malaysia narrative from the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on June 4 to various government representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),Women's Ministry, Immigration Department, Police, and Attorney General's Chambers. The Charge conveyed the TIP report narrative and discussed trafficking issues while hosting a luncheon for senior immigration officials, including Director-General Wahid bin Md. Don and Enforcement Director Ishak Mohamed. The officials expressed their intention to continue making progress in combating trafficking in persons. ¶2. (SBU) On June 4, poloff delivered the Malaysia narrative to Carol Chew, Private Secretary to the Women's Minister. Chew thanked us for providing a copy of the Malaysia narrative prior to the report's public release and restated the Minister's desire for good relations and an open dialogue with the Embassy related to trafficking (ref B). Post also delivered the TIP report on June 4 to Mohamad Nizan, Principal Assistant Secretary in the MFA's Multilateral Political Division. Nizan asked for clarification of the factors that influenced Malaysia's placement on the Tier 2 Watch List. He said he needed to read the report before commenting officially on its contents. ¶3. (SBU) The Deputy Chief of Mission met on June 6 with Hussein bin Haniff, the Deputy Secretary-General, Multilateral Political Affairs Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to present the TIP report and receive the government's response. Hussein stated Malaysia is committed to combating trafficking and is taking a number of steps to prosecute suspected traffickers. He expressed disappointment Malaysia is on the watch list, comparing Malaysia's ranking to other ASEAN member-states. He informed the DCM that Malaysia intends to ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (TIP Protocol). The Cabinet is considering the TIP Protocol's ratification. Hussein acknowledged that illegal foreign workers in Malaysia are vulnerable to becoming trafficking victims and said the government is working with source countries to minimize illegal workers. The DCM reiterated that the USG in committed to working with the Malaysians on trafficking. He expressed the Embassy's willingness to meet with Malaysian officials to discuss our shared interests in taking further steps to combat TIP. KEITH