Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KUALALUMPUR125
2009-02-20 10:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

MALAYSIA ON NPT ISSUES

Tags:  PARM PREL PGOV AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC UNGA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7738
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHKL #0125 0511025
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201025Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2376
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1672
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0145
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0027
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1102
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000125 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR ISN/MNSA/DAVIS AND EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC UNGA
IAEA, NPT, MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA ON NPT ISSUES

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 0064 -- NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
TREATY (NPT) CONTACTS

B. STATE 6970 -- NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
(NPT) REQUEST FOR INFO

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Jeremy Nathan for reasons 1.4
b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000125

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR ISN/MNSA/DAVIS AND EAP/MTS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC UNGA
IAEA, NPT, MY
SUBJECT: MALAYSIA ON NPT ISSUES

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 0064 -- NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
TREATY (NPT) CONTACTS

B. STATE 6970 -- NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
(NPT) REQUEST FOR INFO

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Jeremy Nathan for reasons 1.4
b and d.


1. (U) Acting Political Counselor met with Mr. Shazryll
Zahiran, Principal Assistant Secretary in the Malaysian
Foreign Ministry's Disarmament and Non-Proliferation
Division, on February 20 to discuss the current Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review cycle.

No Changes Foreseen, But A Complex Issue
--------------


2. (SBU) In response to reftel B points, Shazryll stated that
because of the upcoming leadership change in the Malaysian
government, it would "be premature to give any concrete
positions." (Note: Malaysia's Prime Minister has announced
he will step down in late March, after which he will be
replaced by his Deputy. End Note.) Shazryll also noted that
GOM internal discussions of non-proliferation issues are more
complex than others, because of the multiplicity of
government agencies involved. That said, Shazryll didn,t
foresee any changes in his government's previous position.

Frustration with Past Results; Will Engage More
-------------- --


3. (C) Shazryll said that it is Malaysia's intent to become
"engaged more actively" in non-proliferation. He quietly
expressed frustration with the track records of previous
Preparatory Committee's (PrepComs),because they "achieve
minimal results" that "usually fail to reach a consensus" and
end up "choosing the easy way out." Shazryll explained that
this frustrated his government because the only concrete
result from these meetings was the Chairman's statement,
which Malaysia considers "non-binding" and "carrying no
weight." He suggested that the Prepcoms should stop using
the Chairman's summary.

Malaysia's Hopes for the Non-Proliferation Treaty
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Shazryll said that Malaysia's primary goal is for all
countries to become signatories of the NPT. When asked about
what Malaysia hoped to see from the United States, Shazryll
noted that his government wants to study more closely the
U.S. policy towards country India. Shazryll did not make any
specific comments about other non-signatory countries, other
than to say that Malaysia hoped that India, Pakistan, Israel,
and North Korea would become signatories to the NPT.
Shazryll was reluctant to comment on Iran's non-compliance
with the NPT, stating that he had not yet read the latest
report from the IAEA. Shazryll mentioned that Iran and North
Korea "always come up" when he attends a meeting about
non-proliferation.
KEITH