EMBASSY DELIVERS TIP ACTION PLAN TO MALAYSIAN

UNCLAS KUALA LUMPUR 000880 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS AND G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL ELAB KTIP KCRM KWMN SMIG SOCI MY SUBJECT: EMBASSY DELIVERS TIP ACTION PLAN TO MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT REF: A. STATE 99723 - TIP ACTION PLAN ¶B. KUALA LUMPUR 147 - MALAYSIA TIP REPORT ¶1. (SBU) Post delivered the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Tier 2 Watch List Action Plan for Malaysia to senior government officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of Human Resources in late September, with further meetings pending. On September 24, the DCM and Political Counselor conveyed the action plan to the Foreign Ministry's Senior Undersecretary for the Americas and Europe Zainuddin Yahya. The DCM emphasized the importance of this issue in the bilateral relationship and continued international attention to TIP issues in Malaysia. Zainuddin indicated he welcomed our plan and would look at it carefully. Poloff conveyed the action plan and discussed forced labor and labor trafficking issues with P. Munusamy, Special Officer to the Minister of Human Resources on September 30. Munusamy expressed his ministry's concern about reports of forced labor in Malaysia, and his understanding of USG attention to this issue. ¶2. (U) With the conclusion of the Muslim holiday season, we are seeking further opportunities to convey the action plan to the Women's Ministry, Immigration Department, Police, and Attorney General's Chambers, as well as the Home Ministry, which has the official coordination role for implementation of the new anti-trafficking law. KEITH