ADM WILLARD'S MEETING WITH DPM NAJIB

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000772 SIPDIS COMPACFLT PLEASE PASS TO ADM WILLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018 TAGS: MCAP MARR MASS MOPS PGOV PREL PTER OVIP MY SUBJECT: ADM WILLARD'S MEETING WITH DPM NAJIB Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION ROBERT RAPSON, REASON 1.4 (B AND D). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In an August 25 meeting with Admiral Willard and the Ambassador, DPM Najib expressed appreciation for U.S. military activities in Sabah and noted that terrorism remained a threat in the region. Najib indicated there was still a question as to whether Malaysian troops would stay in southern Philippines but he was firm in support of continuing the GOM's mediation role. (Note. The GOM subsequently announced a three-month extension for its troop presence in southern Philippines. End note.) The Ambassador urged Najib to continue and if possible expand training with Afghanistan. End Summary. Sabah, Philippines -------------- ¶2. (C) Visiting Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Admiral Willard, accompanied by the Ambassador, met Deputy Prime Minister (and Defense minister) Najib Tun Razak on August 25 and had a cordial discussion on a range of bilateral and regional issues. Noting Admiral Willard's earlier visit to eastern Malaysia, Najib stressed the strategic importance of Sabah and said the U.S. military presence in the area effectively blocked the ability of the Abu Sayyaf Group from transiting to Kalimantan. Admiral Willard said the new coastal radars and C2 building the U.S. is funding will help that effort. ¶3. (C) Najib noted the presence of large numbers of illegal Filipino migrants in Sabah, adding that the GOM is deporting those lacking documentation (see Septel on this issue). The DPM said that the current situation in the southern Philippines is exacerbating the situation, forcing refugees south. He added that the GOM continued to work closely with the GOP for a solution to the conflict, following the recent failure to sign the accord after the Philippine Supreme Court injunction had stopped the negotiations. Southern Thailand -------------- ¶4. (C) The DPM said the Thai military in southern Thailand are reporting a reduction in daily fatalities (down from 5 RTAF soldiers killed per day to 1-2 per day). He believed the situation was slowly improving, and was not affecting internal Malaysia security, even though he estimated about 30,000 people with dual Thai/Malaysian citizenship move freely across the border on a regular basis. Najib said that only a political solution would resolve the conflict, arguing that Bangkok's policy in the south needed to be more "inclusive and persuasive" and offer economic benefits. Other International Issues -------------- ¶5. (C) Najib expressed worry about developments in Pakistan, and the danger of terrorist and extremist groups re-emerging closer to home in Southeast Asia. He called ASG a "criminal" not Islamic extremist group and argued that "soft tactics" must be used to win hearts and minds among Muslims in the area. Admiral Willard noted the USNS MERCY and the previous and ongoing Pacific Partnership missions in this regard. The DPM critiqued U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, citing U.S. deficiencies in understanding local cultures. The Ambassador urged Najib to continue and if possible expand training with Afghanistan. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador asked the DPM to support Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to call on Russia to honor its commitments under the ceasefire President Medvedev signed. The Ambassador also urged continued access for international humanitarian organizations to corridors for the delivery of humanitarian assistance as well as OSCE monitoring. Najib responded that the Russians were testing the international community. They had done this before and every time they met weakness when they probed they would be emboldened to press further. He declined to commit Malaysia to any public or private actions on the issue, but made it clear that he was personally unsympathetic to Russia's current course of action. ¶7. (U) This message was cleared by ADM Willard's staff. KEITH