AUSTRALIA RAMPING UP EFFORTS ON PEOPLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000597 SIPDIS FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2019 TAGS: AU MY PREL KTIP PARM KCRM SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA RAMPING UP EFFORTS ON PEOPLE SMUGGLING/TIP Classified By: ADC Marrie Schaefer reasons 1.4 b and d. Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Overlapping July 6-7 visits to Kuala Lumpur by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith strongly focused on people smuggling/trafficking in persons (TIP) issues. The Australians found the Malaysian side extremely receptive and describe the meetings as exceptionally warm, reflecting a significant improvement in the relationship. Australia is substantially increasing its people smuggling/TIP related personnel and programs in the country. End summary. ¶2. (C) According to Australian Polcouns Arthur Spyrou, PM Rudd, who touched down in KL for three hours on July 6 on his way to the G-8 meeting, launched directly into the people smuggling/TIP issue with PM Najib, who was extremely receptive. Spyrou said the meeting was characterized by a degree of warmth unprecedented in the recent history of Australian-Malaysian relations. The Australians also were impressed with the substance and sophistication of Najib,s responses. According to Spyrou, the PM "really gets it" in regard to these issues, e.g., Najib took pains to distinguish between people smuggling and trafficking. The Australians are convinced that Najib, given his domestic political interest in portraying himself as strong on security, is genuinely determined to address these issues. Defense Minister Hamidi also impressed his Australian interlocutors with his expressed willingness to cooperate in every way possible in combating people smuggling. ¶3. (C) While the meetings did take up other traditional priorities in the relationship, including environmental, education, and defense cooperation issues, the primary objective for the unusual simultaneous visits of PM Rudd and FM Smith was to deliver a strong message on people smuggling. The Australians are pouring significant resources into combating people smuggling and TIP in Malaysia, recently adding six additional staff at the Embassy to focus solely on increasing operational cooperation with the relevant GOM agencies. In recent months a series of visitors from Canberra have stressed to their GOM interlocutors that action is urgently required. ¶4. (C) Spyrou said Najib had highlighted to Rudd recent improvements in U.S.-Malaysian relations, stating that the new U.S. administration was striking a "good balance between hearts-and-minds outreach and its own security interests." Najib had added that this new U.S. approach had the effect of "empowering" countries such as Malaysia. Spyrou concluded that while the Australians "could not have asked for more" in terms of the warm atmosphere and receptiveness of the GOM leadership, Canberra would have to maintain persistent efforts here to insure that the relevant Malaysian institutions followed through on the commitments of their leaders. KEITH