BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE OF POST-SHIPMENT CHECK OF

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000711 SIPDIS PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC MY SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN RESPONSE OF POST-SHIPMENT CHECK OF LICENSE 050081517 REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 00579 ¶B. SECSTATE 63358 ¶1. In an attempt to locate the Malaysian company Setcom Express Sdn Bhd and conduct a post-shipment check of 23 (two different types) thermostats for C-130 aircraft, Econoff attempted again to locate the company utilizing Embassy locally employed staff and their research capabilities, but this was unsuccessful. Multiple searches by local staff in electronic databases, such as the internet in Bahasi Malay, and periodicals turned up nothing on Setcom. The company, if it exists, is not located on the internet or in any Embassy open source resource materials. Econoff in late July and early August was also unable to re-contact the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) individual -- utilized for Embassy's reftel -- despite multiple phone calls. No one would else would answer this official's phone, and it is possible/probable that the official has moved on, transferred, or been replaced. Econoff therefore was unable to utilize this contact to assist in looking again for Setcom and to determine whether the RMAF had received the thermostats and/or the location of the thermostats. ¶2. Econoff then asked for assistance from the U.S. Embassy's Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) for its contacts within the RMAF to inquire about Setcom and/or to locate official documentation related to the thermostats. ODC responded on 11 August that its RMAF contacts could not locate any reference to, or contacts within, Setcom, nor any official documentation such as an official purchase order or other official paperwork related to the thermostats. ¶3. It is unclear if the RMAF received the thermostats and if Setcom is a valid company. DAO has offered to utilize a non-military Malaysian contact to see if he can learn anything about Setcom or the thermostats, and DAO expects an answer by the end of the week of 11 August. KEITH