MALAYSIA/PIRACY - CONTACT GROUP, SHIP DEPLOYMENT,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000291 SIPDIS FOR EAP AND PM/PPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2029 TAGS: PREL PHSA MARR MASS SCUL SO MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA/PIRACY - CONTACT GROUP, SHIP DEPLOYMENT, PIRACY CONFERENCE REF: A. STATE 31041 - MEMBERSHIP IN CONTACT GROUP ¶B. KL 193 - PIRACY CONFERENCE PLANNED Classified By: Political Counselor Mark D. Clark, reason 1.4 (b and d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (S) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry remains very interested in Malaysia's prospects for joining the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and requests an update on planned meetings. Malaysia is rotating its current naval vessel in the Gulf of Aden and, according to DAO reporting, replacing this with a militarized tanker. Malaysia continues to plan for its international piracy conference, May 18-19. A U.S. Navy captain with experience in current Gulf of Aden/Somalia anti-piracy operations has confirmed attendance, and Post is also seeking U.S. Coast Guard representation in response to a specific Malaysian request. End Summary. Malaysia and Contact Group -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Malaysian Foreign Ministry Under Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs Ganeson Sivagurunathan, in an April 15 conversation with polcouns, reiterated Malaysia's keen interest in joining the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). Following up on ref A points which we conveyed to Ganeson on April 1, Ganeson signaled Malaysia's disappointment that the Cairo plenary had not addressed the issue of new members, and thanked polcouns for continued U.S. support for Malaysia's inclusion in the Contact Group. Ganeson asked for any further details on upcoming CGPCS working groups and plenary sessions. The MFA official also expressed interest in any changes in U.S. or multilateral force policies toward Somali piracy following the recent rescue of an American captain and the shooting of Somali pirates. Polcouns pledged to share information on these topics as it becomes available. Malaysia's Gulf of Aden Deployment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Royal Malaysian Navy training ship, KD Hang Tuah, will return from the Gulf of Aden to Malaysia on April 30, according to open source reporting. The ship is the fifth Malaysian naval vessel sent to the Gulf of Aden to escort Malaysian flagged vessels from the national shipping company. Chief of the Malaysian Navy, Admiral Abdul Aziz Jaafar, confirmed publicly the DH Hang Tuah will end its three-month mission on April 30. ¶4. (S) The Malaysian government will replace the departing warship with a militarized tanker, according to separate DAO reporting. The tanker reportedly will carry a contingent of Malaysian marines. KL Piracy Conference -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Malaysian Foreign Ministry will host the Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Piracy and Crimes at Sea on May 18-19 (ref B). The Ministry's chief organizer informed us on April 17 that confirmed delegations include those from Australia, Yemen, and Somalia. The Somali participants include members of the Puntland government. The current conference program still features the Prime Minister as keynote speaker. Others scheduled presenters are an IMO Deputy Director; the Director of the ICC's International Maritime Bureau; representatives from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry; the British FCO; Malaysia's NSC and coast guard; and presenters from academia and think tanks. ¶6. (SBU) The Foreign Ministry remains keen to have USG participation in the event. In particular, the MFA is seeking, and willing to pay travel expenses for, a U.S. Coast Guard representative to speak about mechanisms for law enforcement cooperation in the Caribbean. As post awaits responses regarding USCG and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) participation, we have received confirmation KUALA LUMP 00000291 002 OF 002 of attendance by the U.S. Navy Director, Combined Maritime Forces, NAVCENT, who is prepared to present on the current Gulf of Aden/Somalia anti-piracy operations. KEITH